Dear E. A simple moment of real magic. A shooting star. A glimpse
of a mountain lion in daylight. A glimpse of a mountain lion at night.
The first note a bugling elk plays. The cry of a loon. The first time I
ever tasted chocolate. Your presence. The perfect kiss. When I realized,
truly realized, that my parents love me, that my dog loves me, even when
I forgot to feed him (twice in one day). Then, the very next moment:
the plug is pulled, nuclear apocalypse, the precise moment the world’s
waters choose to wash land dwellers away. Hearts go permanently
on strike. We die. Full stop. Thee End. Would it have been worth it?
If yes or no, did you see that shooting star? Wish for me. Will.
Will Falk (He/him) is a poet, attorney, and community organizer. He writes poems while traveling across the US to offer free legal services to communities fighting against extractive projects like mines, pipelines, and clear-cuts. His poems have appeared through Chapter House Journal, ONE ART, Sheila-na-gig Online, and Wayfarer Magazine, among others. His first poetry collection is When I Set the Sweetgrass Down (Wayfarer Books, 2023).
thank you very much, Wayfarer!