branchedoutwisdom

Deciduous

By Laura McCollough Moss

Hey tree

I like the way you look

rubber stamped black

against a celophane sky

fine black limbs

big leafy branches below

tiny ones reaching heavenward

You are there

all day

while I am working

swaying in the sun

sheltering birds

looking beautiful

I just want to

lie here

smell the warm

fruity

dryer vent

clean clothes tomorrow

All is perfect



fullsupportwisdom

Keeping Abreast

By Laura McCollough Moss

Eleven

first stretch bra

creeps up to your armpit when you

raise your hand

Fourteen

self-conscious

what's everybody looking at?

Eighteen

feeling cocky

go ahead and look,

everybody

Twenty-five

nursing babies

form meets function

Forty

first bra over forty dollars

need the lift

the girls are heading south

Fifty

cancer

fuck

all these years attached to

womanhood

who will you be without them?

strong

healthy

beautiful

alive

you're the woman, Baby

they're just boobs

bridgewisdom

How About It

By Laura McCollough Moss

I don't know

it's risky

change is

unsettling

but stagnation is

devastating

On the one hand

comfort

competence

loyalty

On the other

adrenaline

beginnings

growth

possibility

Don't you do it-

hang back

fold your petals with the setting sun!

 open wide

in your best colors

and shine

shine

shine