Layered Fragments, Becoming Whole

A feather pillow screams
while the stuffed artificial blend holds your neck
like the crook of a lover’s arm
without pinched nerves
or hot sweat

I went for a walk today to get rid of the morning
Sweat
A sour mountain I frequent
to catch breath
Through the hilly bits of a well-marked trail
inside the grass, among broad trees
on the crooked bend to the lake
I found a turtle
Grumpy
His little arms in between as I picked him up
His head withdrew further in
I smiled at him
Little Rubix’s cube
sinking by squares

All I wanted
was to take him home
and feed him my organic lettuce

He sulked in his shell
unwilling to answer my gentle taps

I let him go
After the sun set
behind the moon
Great company. He was hungry. I bet.

I found out later that he was a common land turtle
I never did see him again

Lucky for him
I didn’t dump him in the river
I thought he could swim.