Anti-Heroin Chic
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Music
  • Art
  • Comedy
  • About Our Contributors
  • Masthead
  • Issues
  • About our contributors - 2019
  • About Our Contributors - 2020
  • About Our Contributors - 2021
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Music
  • Art
  • Comedy
  • About Our Contributors
  • Masthead
  • Issues
  • About our contributors - 2019
  • About Our Contributors - 2020
  • About Our Contributors - 2021
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

​

8/1/2018 0 Comments

Poetry By Joshua Dean Smith

Picture
      Flickr JD Gordon



P  A R  E N T  H O O D  

The silver maple in my backyard is infused
with the rusted chain-link, impossible to tell
where the tree begins and the fence ends.  You
can imagine a skinnier youth, when it
innocently weaved its way through boundaries,
from my yard to the next. But it couldn't go
back  

the way it came, history on my side, present somewhere else, and the
future questionable   

at best. Four inches of scar tissue, bark the color of brain  
soaked in formaldehyde. Every year it grows into death
and more of that fence disappears.  I irrationally love this
tree, and as an ill-equipped savior I dulled my
wire-cutters against its struggle. I don't think I saved it,
but trees don't die quickly, and over time it will swallow
those wires like drowning hands reaching for rescue.  

             
    


MY   T E A C H E R S  

Selling cheddar and caramel popcorn to the
two Mrs. Smiths and Miss Keffer,  the
matron saints of Pleasant Valley Road.
Kisses that left red lips on my forehead.  

 
Mile hikes through pine forests and shin-deep
snow to Kim and Kate, whispering when the
deer stopped to watch us carve sharp hearts into
cherry.   

Kisses that shared honey lip balm.    
 
Motionless hours with Rebekah, quieting
over health and heaven watching rosebuds
resurrect  

the empty park. Kisses that felt brave, but now   
 
are language: greetings and wishes,  congratulations,
happy six year anniversary and thanks for
everything you are.   

 
And, maybe, a daughter on my shoulders
steering me through our yard. New kisses,  
new words: how do I thank her for everything
she will be?


​
Picture
Joshua Dean Smith currently works as a data storyteller, where he integrates mathematics, art, and technology to transform data into compelling stories. His work has been featured in the anthology "Ohio's Best Emerging Poets" and the online journal "The Grove". He grew up in the Appalachian region of Ohio, and currently lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife, Rebekah, his dog, Wild Jane, and his cat, Ernest Hemingway (and he has a little boy on the way). 

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Archives

    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    March 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.