ahead of me, a runner,
all fluidity and self-possession,
lifts a wayward turtle that was headed
to its probable death on the road,
gives it a turn and sets it in the grass
its withdrawn face toward the lake
soon enough my mind is back
in its world of “what can you do?”
chewing the day like any metaphor
you care to apply – and then I hear,
“where's home for you?
where is home for you?”
the unanswered question
hollered into the face
of a cell phone
“I'm telling you, get your ass back home!”
Craig Kittner (he/him) has lived a lot of places. Fourteen at last count. Providence saw the start of interesting things that DC helped solidify. Now he lives near the sea in North Carolina and likes to ramble and write. Recent publications include Rabid Oak, CP Quarterly, Briefly Zine, and Bones. Twitter: @craigkittner