Painted Turtle · Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail

Painted Turtle

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by Rebekah Ainsworth

I look for you often. Never expectation, it is hope my eyes have that your need for sun to keep your cold-blooded,
soft body
moving
within your
hard shell

will coincide
   my desire: to see your body art
   your neck
   outstretched.
amplified exposure, reaching and spreading, thirsty to soak
I am thirsty to soak in you.
   ~
I do not stand in wait for you to climb up the mud-dipped trunk.

The forest is not for me— life —but is.

I do not come here to wait for you. I catch you
catch me—
  in motion is how I always see you, but you
  are statue-still, soaking
  in every ray of natural,
glitzy blessing, gawk, compliment, smile.

We both soak—or all. You, never alone, are nothing
if not social.

There is plenty of sun to go around on this day.
And I find you beautiful among your other selves.

~
I am in my intended role: at a distance, Alone Girl peaceful
-ly breathing steam
searching beauty to quench ~parched~

WAIT

you exit [stage right]
splash right
back home out of my sight.

It’s a whole other world down there. One the likes of me—not a diver—may never view. I will
not
see you there. I have held your beauty here with me now, and I am joyous, even at your exit.
(You can’t leave unless you’ve been satisfied.)