sudden mud, d. ellis phelps

Photo by Kelsey Mirehouse on Unsplashsudden mud

please don’t leave my name
hanging around on a park bench
or a paving stone

but sit
alone

sit by the makeshift pond
and wonder:

how deep it is at its center
—maybe a foot or two

how long it will stay
another week another day

—remnant of rain
that lasts for weeks

the way it sometimes does
& how it floods

watch the pickleball players play
wish the way I am today
that you could still play a running game

walk the circled path

listen to granite crush underfoot
see how it glints
in the february sun

how still the swing
where no one swings
its occasional sway
in the teasing breeze

rejoice!
when you see bluebonnet leaves
& know that blooms are coming soon
—the lantana has survived the freeze

notice the net still
without a basketball
–its purpose unfulfilled

the lonely court waiting
like the ankle-deep winter green
grass that waits for spring

take whatever dog we own
with you let her roll
in the sudden mud

listen

to the rooster crow midday

know that he does so
when he does

because he can

& amble round and round again
as many rounds as you can go

and don’t worry

wherever I am

i’ll be just fine

i’ll be just fine


(c) d. ellis phelps