Racoon Honeymoon

At twilight, a racoon honeymoon

is bathed in silver— from the side

 

of your eye, heaps of trash make

immaculate dunes—an altar raised

 

to the moon in offering for a dry

June. From overgrown shell, a snail

 

toddles— is late bearing rings

for the couple who patiently wait.

 

As fireflies spark kindling to a

grey-blue sky, a pair of deer rub

 

noses, smelling nuptials as they

blow in gentle puffs to say hello.

 

When at once these two are one,

their fingers interlaced, a warm

 

breeze sets flowers wild, bobbing

as moths place tiny blooms

 

to crown these wedded racoons.

Approving crickets chirp—

 

their wings all flap and clapping

lend percussion to greyish loons—

 

A serenade on the lagoon.

AUTHOR

Jess L. Parker

Jess L Parker [she/her/hers] is a poet and strategist originally from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Jess lives in Fitchburg, WI with her husband, 18-month-old son, and Pitbull, “Poe”. Her debut poetry collection, Star Things, is winner of the 2020 Dynamo Verlag Book Prize. Jess’ poems have appeared in Bramble, Kosmos Quarterly, Blue Heron Review, and elsewhere. Jess holds a B.A. of English and Spanish from Northern Michigan University, an M.A. of Spanish Literature from UW-Madison, and an MBA from Concordia University.