The Places You Listen For, Poetry by Janet Weil

Genre: Relationship, Family, Love

The Places You Listen For
by Janet Weil

The river curves, and pours itself into the ocean,
past the sand spit where ten-foot driftwood
lies bleached and strangely vanquished, at Kalaloch Lodge.

The massive forest of the Washington coast grows
nearly to the surf, final bursts of cottonwood and fir.
Children wander through the shallow tide, searching
for crabs and shells. Lush grasses fringe the parking lot.

The evening sky is a mild gray. The quiet, a caress.
The only sounds, for long stretches, are the voices of crows,
as the dark birds slowly walk the grass and look for dinner.

Because I am here, have been all day
within a dark, unlogged forest

ancient spruce and cedar
icy blue river turbulent with glacier runoff
spicy thimbleberries
ferns taller than a car
waterfalls

I want you to be here too. I bear the thought of you