An Evening Stroll

Published in Baldwin Wallace’s literary journal, The Mill April 2020

Out on an evening stroll

I stumble across a lonesome bench,

Worn out and faded,

Overlooking the gulf.

I sit and watch the water ripple and stare

At the moonlight’s reflection.

The waves climb along the rock shore 

Splashing boulders and spraying me with

Mist.

I think: whatever fish may be out there,

Tend to me,

Find me,

Take me in

Before the whale swallows me

And I fight and scratch and claw like hell my way out

From the belly of the whale

Until I am spit out

Stranded at sea.

The ocean breeze cools me from

The heat of the day while

I still sit on the bench

Thinking and waiting to take that leap of faith

Into the water

That will consume me.

One day I will find 

Whatever it is I’m searching for

Whatever it is I need to find

Whatever it is

Whatever it is, well,

Shall I call it a night?