TIM STALEY – 15 LAKE MARTIN HAIKU

All night pine trees 

stand together – a cordon 

protecting us from what?

*

We sync up with the slow 

soggy heartbeats 

of a heron.

*

In silver glimpses 

fish dart in sunlight, 

churn the surface. 

*

Driveway spider

swells his body 

into her room.

*

The River Otter

Under fog, a blunt nosed 

black submarine cuts 

the upper crust of the lake.

*

The Largemouth Bass

Lifeless and still until 

erupting, fin flexing –

slapping back in.

*

Sunlight catches wet 

stone – what fraction of a fish 

is made of water?

*

Ants from inside my clothes

spring directly 

from the stiching.

*

2 preteens French kissing in tall weeds 

beside Real Island Road. 

*

Rainy 4th of July

Sad songs by white 

micro farmers draw hearts with fingers

on steamy glass.

*

Spank Working the Shore

Knee-deep in diamonds 

throwing stones 

to expand the beach.

*

Spank Working the Shore 2

With gloppers, 

a branch plops in –

a home for brim.

*

Our eyelids, clumsy with sweat

move like an anthill

down our backs. 

*

After the Storm

a staircase bobs 

across the lake.

*

sunlight drips 

from a duck’s bill, ripples 

set off like tree rings.

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