Return to Top of Page
Menu
  • Close
  • About Us
  • Contributors
  • Donate
  • Opportunities
  • Staff
  • Submissions
  • 20 Years
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Search Website
Literary Mama
  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Departments
  • Blog
  • Newsletter
Photo by Taylor Leopold on Unsplash

Poetry | September/October 2021

Tall Ship

By Lesley-Anne Evans

A gentle trough of skin 
like velvet

seems an odd design
for a boy's neck or 

a horse’s nose. Yet here 
I am. Your Lego seascape 

spread on the floor, and me 
mid-hover like an off-course 

shorebird. Do you see 
me flounder? I conjure ways 

to return to float in that swirl 
of hair tip top 

your small head—to drift
a little longer—a buoy 

in the current of our story.
This is the movie I play 

on repeat, me 
swooping in just on time

when you choose one day 
to go. I want to touch 

your neck—hint of sweat 
and dip of earlobe—your hand 

brushing mine away. There is 
no bird. I am a channel marking

a way, and you 
are long gone to sea.

4 replies on “Tall Ship”

Amy Baskinsays:
September 17, 2021 at 9:56 am

Lesley-Anne, I’ve hovered like an off-course shorebird over my tall ships as well. This is marvelous.

Reply
Lesley-Anne Evanssays:
November 30, 2021 at 11:34 pm

Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Amy. I’m so sorry I didn’t see your generous words until now.

Reply
Christina Dendysays:
September 20, 2021 at 9:57 am

Beautiful. My first Lego builder just went to college so I feel this one in many ways.

Reply
Lesley-Anne Evanssays:
November 30, 2021 at 11:36 pm

Christina, last Christmas we put out lego on our coffee table, and for a few evenings our three 20-somethings (and me) had a splendid time building small worlds and things. It’s not over, just morphing. All the best.

Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Share This Page

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Copy Link

Lesley-Anne Evans

Learn More

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Don't miss out on Literary Mama news and updates

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Instagram
  • RSS

© 2023 Literary Mama | Search Site | About Us | Staff | Submissions | Privacy Policy