It's Still Life

Morning on the Lake (memories from a child’s diary)

The boat’s nose sniffs at sunrise—
wet-bright and sweet, chasing
its tail across a rising hush,

and the oars dip and grin,
spilling silver over minnows
that taste of pepper and paper.

I am queen of this nowhere kingdom.
I am Amphitrite of dragonfly fleets.
My hair is plaited in ropes of gold
that even the jealous wind can’t undo.

Grandmother says don’t go far—
but the reeds whistle me forward
with their green notes scribbling
secret maps on my bare knees.

And I know this:
dawn tastes better
when you steal it for yourself.

Some artwork is created using Midjourney AI, and is identified as such in the ALT text or captioned. Images are copyright and not to used without permission, which I willingly give when asked, and when not for commercial use. Imagery and poems/prose ©Misky 2006-2025.