Pause

Mercedes Lawry

Tick, the rheumy morning, a sky
submerged. Tock, the hours
stretched like old string, taut
and thinning. The January days
are raspy whispers, nettling
your thoughts into scrum and bother.
Only the hummingbird that comes
each day to the same branch
of the moss-laden apple tree
to survey the backyard, with no regard
for me at the window, soothes
my jumbled mind. It dips
and peers, the frenzied flutter
paused, until finally it dives
beyond my sight,
small winter ghost.

Mercedes Lawry previously published poems in such journals as Poetry, Alaska Quarterly Review, Nimrod, and Another Chicago Magazine. She has three chapbooks – There are Crows in My Blood, Happy Darkness and In the Early Garden With Reason which was selected by Molly Peacock for the 2018 WaterSedge Poetry Chapbook Contest. Her poetry book, Vestiges, was published by Kelsay Books in 2022. Her most recent collection, Small Measures, was published in 2024. She has also published short fiction as well as stories and poems for children.