A CROOKED TREE


In a field of wheat
A small child
Climbs toward the sky
Clouds wispy
Floating free
The child sits on a branch
Daydreaming

Off in the distance
A castle
Horses running
Thunder in his ears
The clashing of swords
Men falling to the ground

The child looks
Away to the east
Giant ships
Upon tossing waves
Sailors climbing the masts
Water spilling over
Washing the crew to sea

His eyes move to the south
He twists his body
A stagecoach comes down
The Road horse at a gallop
Riders following in pursuit
Guns blazing
The driver stands and falls to the ground

He turns to the west
A beach
Seagulls over head
Hot sand
Soldiers come ashore
Thousands pour off small ships
All around chaos
Large guns sound from the cliffs
Machine gun fire rattles

A voice in the distance
Subtle at first
Then penetrating
The boy slides
Down the tree
Mother is calling
Peanut butter and jelly
He runs home


Michael V Hechtman