Observing the Dark – Joan Johnston

Observing the Dark

One bird’s tick
in the Rowan. ….There,

hear that? …..Wait
for it again

but no….. it’s gone,
tiny and flown.

…

This sitting on cold stone
looking hard,

listening
to a tree

as if….. by this late vigilance
word would come.

…

Since 1997 Joan Johnston has published 6 poetry collections and pamphlets. She has been a writer with the homeless, in hospitals, schools, women’s refuges and prisons and she currently teaches Creative Writing on a freelance basis.