unlike trees
who learn to lean
with the winds
we lean into them
heads bowed
shoulders hunched
thrusting--
skirts and coats
billowing behind
storm clouds
gushing
across the sky
These stanzas grew out of the image of a woman walking into a headwind on the beach, her clothing filling and flapping like sails in the wind. I was struck by the effort and intention in her movements. Language can be loaded: desire often has a negative connotation, while purpose and intention carry positive overtones. Meanwhile, the movement of the figure is as natural as the clouds.
If you have written a short piece driven by one image, share it in the comments.
