"Gold January Light" -- The Scottish Exodus -- Andrewdevenney.com

The Scottish Exodus

An advert image I put on the page and sent to friends and family in email.

A front page button. Don't recall what it linked to, but amusing nonetheless.

Our friend, Matt P. McCabe, who went to Scotland for same graduate program. This was his "stern" picture.

Gold January Light

People have always given me
the leaf weighted
with frost
rusty scabs of bark
for my hair
bits of seasons ending or
ended
to build a raft for
stagnant water

But I am heavy as the
old mill brick
that constricts the
throat of the river
and keeps nature
growing wildly downward

Everyone climbs onto my
ledge
one jogger looked
right at me
confessing—
a little boy
learning to ride
a bike
pedaled over my skin—
their breath escaped
unclothed into the air
froze and fell without
shame

I see them and
huddle deeper
behind the fence
because I can not
hold any more
builders and blacksmiths
descending the stairs
to my heart
I want something
to throw in the river

I heard that
gold January light
speeds coagulation
I rest
the pigeons are opera
singers with dirty wings