walking alone
–Salmon River at Three Rocks
greet this place aloud hello tender hello is doorway
to prayer is doorway to song move through winged
trill waterfall trickle gravel crunch suddenly startle
you might be seen someone might come upon you
strange person hand recklessly on breastbone as luxury
fits in the world emerge from domestic rainforest
to ocean-mouthed riverbed palm sand’s tidal indents
until shape of coast one more line on your body
aren’t vapors whirling above your own mind all around
patterned & dancing right there your anemone heart
clenching when provoked even by gentle curious touch
here shell you outgrew & there you’re honed beach-log
smooth by turmoil throw yourself on the fire miracle
you barely smolder arrive to where you chuckle
silly you thinking yourself stranger that earnest hello
Ash Good is a queer, non-binary & non-monogamous poet, designer, curator, editor, artist and activist. They are co-founding editor at First Matter Press (a 501c3 nonprofit), curator of Bloom open mic and a reader for Frontier Poetry magazine. Ash is the author of four collections of poetry and their work most recently appears in Not Very Quiet, The Timberline Review and Rise Up Review. They live in Portland, Oregon. www.ashgood.com
