Bird and Tree

artwork: ralph murre

Bird and Tree

by Morgan Harlow

Today a bird flew into the yard and landed on the tree we almost

cut down, the one that is thin with one dead branch arching over

the fence.

A scrawny kind of bird, a wren or sparrow, or a chickadee perhaps,

common and cheerful. Look, you can see it now.

~ first published in The Cortland Review

Worry

photoart: ralph murre

Worry

by Morgan Harlow

Worried about wrappings, cardboard laced with

BHT; Styrofoam cups and aluminum trays,

cellophane, Mylar and shrink wrap: the story

of a buddy’s bar pizza, microwaved and served

with the plastic wrap still on, bright patina

coating.

~ first published in cold-drill

SPIN

photo: morgan harlow

Spin
by Morgan Harlow

his wife said
. . close your
. . .eyes and open
. . . your mouth
. . .motioning
. .to a spider
. . .dangling off
. . . . . .the roof.
. . no wonder
. . . . I don’t
. . . . . trust you
. . .one of us
. . . . . said
. . . . . .and
. . . . . .she went
. . . . .inside the
. . . . . . . . house
. . . .leaving
. . . . . . . . us alone
. . . .the spider
. . .spinning
. .and pulling
. . .away
. . . . a kind of
. . . . . .creepy
. . . . . .mistletoe
. . . . making me glad
. . ..we was
. .just buddies a
guy and a gal going
. . . . . . . .out to raise
. . . . . .hell on a
. . . Saturday
. .night.

~ first published in San Pedro River Review