Riding the Wind

April 26, 2015

by

Eve Greenwell
Nicole Koch
Mackenzie Peck

Riding the Wind

fall breeze
a leaf blows
across the grave

piling the dirt atop
chilled bones

a watchful raven
preens its feathers
metal clanging

on the fence of the playground
it ominously waits

the blood of the victim
engraved
in the harvest moon

rising from the earth
an undead soul

•

in the closet
hiding
shotgun in hand

dragging footsteps
the family photo shatters

an enraged roar
reverberates off the walls
trembling hands

at the sound of the lion
she drops her popcorn

collapsed zoo gates
the guests
become the animals

a grand collaboration
between penguin and polar bear

•

the arctic moon
reflected in the snow
illuminates the land of ice

a whale's spout
pierces the freezing air

she stands at the cliff face
seaspray stings her face
and wind whips her hair

falling turns to flight
she wakes from the dream

gravity prevails
as she hits the floor
cherry blossoms

tumbling from her hand
an empty pill bottle

•

alone on the floor
the baby
crying for comfort

she turns to her husband
just an indentation in the sheets

his warmth lingers
the smell of coffee
wafts through the room

a breeze through the window
stirs the aroma

carefully observing
the colors of the kites
the cereal crunches

impatiently
he rushes to join his friends

•

kickball
picked last
once again

in the outfield
a butterfly

blinded by the sun
he cannot see
his bright future

clouded by doubt
he gives up

the moon's light
exposes a stream of tears
brush strokes on his face

raindrops tap the window
darkness fills the room

•

the crickets sing
their favorite song again
insomnia

expectant mother
awake with dreams

longing for a better future
for her child
rocking chair creaks

knitting needles in hand
the booties toe takes shape

faint taps
vibrates the wall
cherry blossoms

the old tree at the window
blown in the wind

• • •

Eve, Mackenzie, and I decided to do this through text since we were not able to meet together.  I was in a hotel in Wisconsin, while Eve was in the anatomy lab at Millikin.  Mackenzie was in Weck Hall at Millikin.  Eve started, then I would write one, and then Mackenzie.  Unfortunately, Mackenzie had to leave in the middle of it, so Eve and I just switched off after that. ~ Nicole