Those awaking on the island
begin to wander early. Toward
the west beach. Toward the round south stones.
It hardly matters if they reach
the top of Dun, the hermit’s cell.
They head into quiet behind
this wind, quiet under waves on
black volcanic rock, the quiet
across hosannas of grass. Even
here, beside this bench, the rosehips
shiver, the wagtail fidgets, the
snail makes its slow parade along
the walk. Curly dock and chard are
leaning. The rain falls hard. All
one motion in the one motion.
Richard Robbins was raised in California and Montana, taught for many years in Minnesota, and recently moved back west to Oregon. His collection The Oratory of All Souls (Lynx House) was published in 2023. www.richardrobbinspoems.com
Photo by Andrew Dawes on Unsplash
