Walking the Grasslands – Richard King Perkins II
Absolute stillness across the prairie,
eagles and badgers have gone
to starve quietly in another place.
My lips have forgotten how to whistle
but I can still hear the lost sounds of
the coyote and its infinite appetite.
The ground conceals itself in monotony,
staying gray with highlights of sage
and the August air scraping at my face.
So many songs have disappeared into
a land of straw and slate; the coyote’s den
filled with anthems of spirit and flesh.
About the Author: Richard King Perkins II is a state-sponsored advocate for residents in long-term care facilities. He lives in Crystal Lake, IL, USA with his wife, Vickie and daughter, Sage.
