earth note 43

schenley park, pittsburgh
i spent the day walking schenley oval
it wasn't a waste of time
those shadows struck perfect images
on my left then my right
my body never looked so crisp
next to half-rotted acorns
their torsos half-way to death along side of mine
thrown down on a still grassy quilt of
brown red yellow maple     red oak     hemlock
that will never be duplicated
not one cloud
only sun (no visible haze)
that exact light in the sky never duplicated
picks up the pattern of the cyclone fence and spatters
a perfect grid along the first base line
four squirrels scavenging
tail paws quick dark eyes
jumping at shadows
we walk

--- e b bortz

(published in ordinary shoes, #2, 1997)