peripheries

An Untitled Poem
 

Melanie Archuleta

Recall sage brush firm and bold rou-

nd yet sticking out. Crisp mountain mist cusps the atmosphere. Red road
& black tar, Mother’s first scar.

I can feel the heat from her core. I
know the spots where she is sore.
Felt them myself once before. Burns
outlive their welcome, bring the
ugliest of scars & remind you everyday
they fall random as a deck of cards:
thumb & flip atop stack, fan down. There.
No relief here while the sun beats down black shade.

Jump
           dip
                 water
                            swish
       with rapid flow

& I lay my mind to ground red dirt - Mother Earth. I am she, & she, me.