Autumn in the Park with Chagall
A runner in sweat pants and wool hat crunches
around a black track shining in late afternoon sun;
The last two tennis players in the world play
(thwack) a slow game at the base line (thud)
while through pools of bronze beech leaves swish
two boys and their mongrel who sights
the runner panting around the far curve
and leaps ahead barking pursued by boys shouting—
A joyful chase in the darkening day.
A sharp wind smelling of snow rises out of the sun
picks up dog, boys, runner and spirals them
high into a winter sky while (thwack)
the last two tennis players (thud) in the world
will play forever (thwack) tied at love and love (thud)
Jennifer Lee was born and raised in Michigan, where her father attended Central Michigan College. She received a B.A. in Humanities and an M.A. in Comparative Literature from Michigan State University. These were followed by a Ph.D. in English from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She currently lives in New Hampshire where she is on the staff of the University of New Hampshire and a member of the Yogurt Shop Poets. Her poetry has been published in various small magazines. Her heart remains in the Great Lakes.
Poetry | Fiction | Non-Fiction | Photography