Shell Shifter (Day 37)

Hair starred, as when loose 

ends spilling forward, 

reinforced helmet of canned 

therapy, this shell shifter winks 

an eye at rudeness, flips lies

into motion—an abstract art 

he will have tracked by obtuse 

men—while his hurricane

intensifying, suspends the ruled 

in false ease and paper freedom

—a land of liberty as foreign 

to his understanding as 

a nation in a raindrop, falling 

toward a desert sand.

(c) 2017, by Hannah Six

Photo: Alex Hanson

An Uncommon Crowd (Day 36)

Photo: Paul Sableman

An Uncommon Crowd

An uncommon crowd 

crushed the town, 

taking care to explain 

his impertinent proposal.

We waited, leaden, ground 

to diamonds by the casual 

processions—silent circuses 

of nostalgic longing. 

Ice chimed against the rippling 

sidewalks. It was like this, 

they warned, and we hung 

on to the raveled edge 

of every magic carpet 

they unfurled, bound as we 

were by blood and spirit. Yes, 

we sighed, that was their world. 

And now? Heads bowed, we 

glowed, endowed with

phosphorescent wisdom,

ridiculous, assured. 

The darkness whispered: 

Neither moment matters.

(c) 2017, by Hannah Six

Impertinent Neighbor (Day 22)

Consider the impertinent
neighbor   rustling
capering and affectionately
blowing smoke up
toward the clouds
as he offers you a hot
dog off of your own
barbecue   then   like some
grand and bellicose
walrus   unfolding himself
on your favorite chair
(where   later   he will slosh
half a glass of sangria)
to conduct the orchestra
of your carefully selected
guests.

(c) 2017, by Hannah Six

Photo: US Fish & Wildlife Service

A Leopard (Day 21)

Is a black leopard
too much shadow
when    at night  
the silver fox
   winds her way
                    further into
the lair of bright
    brooding hens    like
a pallid
    ghost of some
long-forgotten
truth

(c) 2017, by Hannah Six