By Christa Fairbrother

          Good at seeing both sides, taking perspective—
a harbor, an arbor
          a barrier, moat. Thwarter of hoof and claw
yet trapped as they. Bored, board
          forever after. Limbs alive, lacking leaves
posted, ivy twines,
          hides your nudity, tattoos of long lost loves.
Fingers strum, morse code your
          miles. Silent sentinel, knot eyes for the beasts,
barks of loud, burly guests.

~~~~~

Christa Fairbrother, MA, has had poetry in Arc, Epiphany, Pleiades, and Salamander, among others. Currently, she’s Gulfport, Florida’s poet laureate, and she’s been a finalist for the Leslie McGrath Poetry Prize, The Prose Poem Competition, The Pangea Prize, and was a Pushcart Prize nominee. Connect with her on Bluesky: @christafairbrother.