the winter wood
floor speckled with leaves
glows in the afternoon sun
I follow the path past
bare embarrassed oaks and
smartly dressed evergreens
the world feels freshly
washed and clean the cool air
whistles through my nose
fills my lungs and through
some cardio-pulmonary miracle
enters my heart and sanctifies me
I walk to clear my head
I walk to cleanse my soul
I walk to feel my legs
I walk
so I can move forward.
John Kaprielian
A natural history photo editor for 34 years, John Kaprielian brings his eye for natural history to much of his work. He has been published in Poetry Quarterly, New Croton Review, Minute Magazine, CP Quarterly, and many other journals. He lives in Putnam County, NY, with his wife, an artist.