Poems by Ed Meek

Spy Pond: Arlington, Massachusetts

--In the 19th Century Spy Pond was a source
for ice cut into huge blocks...

by Ed Meek

From Canary Winter 2018-19

Ed lives in the Mystic River watershed just northwest of Boston.

It’s unnerving when shuffling
across the ice in early March
to feel a shift beneath your feet
and hear the aching crack
before you see the crooked rift
that cuts a seam between your legs.

You might have known it wasn’t safe.
You saw the melting at the edge
before you ventured out. You know
about the shifting seasons: shorter winters,
early springs, long summer months,
record heat and drought.

Just to be safe you best drop down
onto your hands and knees;
pray all the way to the shore.