“An Afternoon on the Alapaha”

by Sandi Thurston

A moss-swagged oak

Bends low, hissing

Golden dried leaves

Peeking from the powdery dirt

Overhead light showering yellow

Peeps through the fennel-choked fence

Wallowing round the curve

Black water of the Alapaha

Tools through the lane

Green hedge of the river bank

Hoisted to the blue sky

Lacy shade of a magnolia

Stabs up from beneath

Medley of singing

A squawk on the hot still air

Setting sun hangs fire

Sitting high and white

Golden dried leaves poke through

Sun glints around rusty splotches

Leaves will come out dull gold