Seasonal Clearance
A poem by Linda B. Myers

Seasonal Clearance

Mountains have their first sifting
and leaves in barrows are on their way to compost.

The apple must be hardwired to the tree.
Its apple green apple cousins fell weeks ago
into the maws of greedy deer
or pots of soon-to-be sauce.

Today the gnarled twig also holds a flicker
nimble enough to bend and poke her long beak
into the sweet meat
hanging by a thread below.
She maintains critical balance between
head dipping and bootie bobbing.

Migrating birds stop for nothing but fast food
on their journey south.
They’ve no time for the persistent apple dance
of the flicker.

This morning, the apple is gone.
Some pillager took the beak-pecked remains in the night.
Today, we’ll cover the faucets and roll up the hoses.

About the Author:

Linda B. Myers is a Chicago transplant to Washington’s Olympic Peninsula where she has settled in as part of the old growth. Myers survived a career in marketing; has published ten mystery and historical novels; is newish as a poet; writes a monthly opinion piece for the Sequim Gazette; co-founded Olympic Peninsula Authors dedicated to promoting the many fine writers out here in the back of beyond. She can be reached with compliments at myerslindab@gmail.com

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