Reeling In

 Reeling in

Peeling back layers of wire, screen, instant messages and Zooms.

Visceral checking the news, pics, stories, and 

abysmal tabs,

takes lifting the head,

Upwards.

It takes an effort, and a trip to somewhere removed from asphalt and cell phone towers. 

Where eyes can see for stretches, in 360 degrees.

To water’s gentle passage,

swishings of boots through.

Dialing back a virtual world,

for one that can be received by licking chapped lips and whiffing sun burned grass.

Buzzing without electricity.

Vibrations in X, Y, Z directions.

A symphony of clicks, clacks, chirps, chortles, and crunches.

ZZZZZZZZZZ, SSSSSSS, rrrrrrrrrr, ttttttttttt

Ta, ta, ta

Tails whip up and down.

Smack! 

Down a hide so fierce.

Damselflies zip by.

My neck stretches longer still, 

so seconds can slip right off.

Seeing boys casting silently,

they are sunken.

In a slippery, cool river that goes by.

Minds on knots and jigs,

crafted by their own hands.

Becoming centered,

by untangling one’s own line. 

Reeling in their own realities,

ripe with treasure and bites,

that can be felt by stings and scents,

that are still here for them.

As they stir slowly,

to detect a world,

that is thirsty for their attention.