Little Eyes In The Trees Poem by nudi ??

after Terrance Hayes, 'The Same City'

unloaded from car:
children, wellies, sandwiches, a blanket
she carries them through the gate into dappled light of forest
there is magic here, she confides
listen closely, hear the wind singing through the trees?
their skin goosepimples under summer shade
glancing at each other they remember with a s h i v e r
illustrations in a children's book
night eyes glinting from wooded bank

she laughs, strides ahead along hardened path
long, strong steps lead them deeper into the woods
they follow behind wellies
snuffling through leaves chattering like jackdaws
stay quiet & you may see a deer she counsels in sparkled whisper
excited eyes dart expectant
they forget not to giggle

sudden joyful burst
into wide-open sun they run
squealing bobtails
scattering

let me begin
again

door creaks open in rusty refusal
as she summons everything she's got:
faded Greek rug, simple homemade lunch of course
two mutinous little ones she made these too
& she's tired her joints ache
from years of praying for children
worry they'd never come
a broken gingerbread family
is not how she pictured the scene
but on this day

she feels whole
she loves to share the woods with them
spark their imaginations, open their ears, bright their eyes
their smiles & chatter lift
she sighs, long & soft
picks up the heavy load
leads them into the forest
leaves crumbs