Bones

Laury Charland

Creative Writing Editor

I found bones in the woods last night.

Mother, I swear they weren’t his.

I found bones in the woods last night.

I didn’t look at them for too long

Mother, I swear they weren’t his.

I found bones in the woods last night.

They screamed my name and sung my mind

I didn’t stare, Mother.

I swear they weren’t his.

I found bones in the woods last night.

In piles, and mountains, and mounds

They chanted my love and wept my sorrow,

I know it’s rude to stare, but, Mother, I swear—

They weren’t his.

I found bones in the woods last night,

In crevices, and puddles, and creaks,

They tasted like the life of a king and the dreams of a child,

They knew my trust’s rhythm, knew my lust’s melody,

Maybe I glanced one time too many

But they weren’t his, Mother.

Trust me.

I would know.