“The Park Bench,” New Era, Aug. 1985, 30
The Park Bench
Come with me to the crayon-green park bench,
Long unsat-upon,
Dusted with dried wheaten grass,
Bedecked in spider web,
Fine threads clinging …
Wisping silver in the sunlight;
Tiers of them,
Caught with yellow strawflowers,
—Sticky hammocks for unlucky flies—
Webs thick with fallen twigs,
Seeming to grow out of the green boards.
Run your fingers between the slats of the back …
Find dusty treasures
In the bench’s secret cache.
Sit down
And stay awhile,
The bench has much to tell you.
Art by Dina Olson
Art by Kerry Soper
Photo by Bobbi Jane Rice
Art by Carrie Strong