44839: Poetry From a Zip Code (Part 3)

As it is National Poetry Month, this pedometer geek is sharing the third of her poems, which were selected for inclusion in the 2019 44839: Poetry From a Zip Code. It is called “The Witch.” It may seem a departure from the previous two poems, but it arises out of the observations of this urban hiker/pedometer geek.

The Witch

She’s there in the cracks

if you look

in the front of the church

Always in the same place

except she tries to hide.

 

Still, most people ignore her

or maybe they just don’t see.

 

Witchever it is,

she’s there.

 

She hides under snow

and leaves,

Come summer, she hides beneath

her straggly crabgrass hair,

covered by her witch’s hat.

And with the passing years,

she hides, sinking

deeper into the walk.

 

Still, I always make sure to

never disturb her peace.

walking around her,

to the right or left, but

avoiding her face.

 

Sometimes, I speak:

“Are you a good witch

or a bad witch?

“Or are you an insufferable

know-it-all like Hermione?”

 

She never says,

just smiles her

enigmatic smile.

~Nancy Brady

To hear one poem from each poet who are part of the Huron, Ohio poetry anthology, check out http://www.smithwrite.net/44839. Photo by Nancy Brady.