Froggy
For D.K Shepard’s Unofficial Challenge.
Recess was for hopping parallel bars
seven inches of gravel, knees
dimpled with falls.
It was circling a high bar
a hundred times, bruises
on the inner thighs,
painless while everyone watched.
You remember him there—
all legs in the underdog shuffle.
Memory is all that counts
when looking for Dad.
When you realize he’s more
of a time.
It comes like a serpent
now, how a person can step off,
an actor from a stage.
What height did I reach?
A great vast sky, loose
like a full circle…
I’m falling in a minor chord.
I used to sprint tight circles; knees
low, fast feet, and tag out the losers.
But it wasn’t anything to do with fathers—
just me and my own legs.
About the Creator
Mackenzie Davis
“When you are describing a shape, or sound, or tint, don’t state the matter plainly, but put it in a hint. And learn to look at all things with a sort of mental squint.” Lewis Carroll
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Copyright Mackenzie Davis.
Keep reading
More stories from Mackenzie Davis and writers in Poets and other communities.
Broch
Broch: luminous ring around the moon. Backstory: I remember being a small girl and staring at the slightly illuminated dark part of an incomplete moon. I was fascinated, didn’t understand how it could be. It's still my favorite part of pedestrian moon-sighting, if visible.
By Mackenzie Davisabout a year ago in Poets
Comments (18)
This was great, it reminded me of being a kid and was so vivid. And I liked the idea of someone being more than someone, and being a time. I feel like that could mean so many things. Someone representing what a certain time of your life was and meant... very powerful stuff!
"It comes like a serpent now, how a person can step off," That whole second to last stanza. It really hits.
Loved the poem. Well done!
Fabulous poem
Congratulations on placing in the challenge 🤩… I used to have gravel rashed knees when growing up🥹… brought back some memories 😊.
Sorry it took me so long to leave a comment on this! But this is such a terrific poem and I’m so honored you entered it in the challenge! I really enjoy a poem that has depth below the surface and makes me do some excavating as good literature does! Fantastic work, Mackenzie!
Masterfully captured and exceptionally written! What a beautiful piece! Well done Mackenzie! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Love your poem. Very beautiful and real . Congratulations on top story.
Congratulations 👏🎉
Back to say congrats on Top Story Mackenzie!!
https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/the-excellence-in-regular-minutes%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
Sweet.
Heartfelt and moving piece. Thank you for sharing, this is vulnerable and a well-deserved top story.
Not surprised to see this here. Congrats on Top Story, Mackenzie!
Oh. This feels so sad. The melancholy is palpable. I feel it rise in my own childhood memories.
Damn! miss your poetry as much as our interactions! this was easy to immerse in! well done, Mackenzie!
I can picture all of this. Excellent work.
I love the imagery and nostalgia in the poem Mackenzie!! Very well done!!