small things

sun … glints off sweaty trickles as they plop … plop … little lad’s littler fingers tickling a tide pool’s papery face things of mysterious intention, darting there to here to there … wide eyes wider in amazement tiny thrums quick’ning dividing breaths like swells divide the time and tides … a splash and a grasp, tightening some small watery beast cold-red cheeks blooming wide to parody the dazzled bay grins and giggles to mock the black-backs for this shrimpy monster, squirming is the prize of a wee fist gamboling its way to proffer some mad-mommy shrieks - slimy and squiggly and oh, so wondrous! hunter, home from the hill Ahab and his white sea demon perfectly prideful, invested surety of a silly smile warmed by the sooty afternoon … sun. Copyright © Gregory Richard Barden, June 9, 2024