Apology
Dear Officer,
I apologize.
I know I was going slow.
I was stunned
by the morning sun
shining a perfect spotlight
on the small maple
in the clearing,
so proud in her
new red dress.
Then I caught a glimpse
of the red cap
on a woodpecker’s head
as he flew by
on undulating waves.
I followed his path
to the fallen pine
along the stream.
I’m sorry.
I didn’t mean
to cause an accident.
I just wanted to slow down
enough to see.
I know you’re in a hurry
to check my registration and insurance,
but now that you’re here,
if you look over there,
along that first thick branch
of the accommodating oak
you can see the woodpecker
listening for larvae
under the bark.
No, I didn’t really get a ticket. But I imagine I will.
For more Poetry Friday, visit Katya at Write. Sketch. Repeat.
© Elizabeth Steinglass, 2013, all rights reserved.
Nicely done, Liz — especially love the ending :).
Hooray hooray! Worth every penny!
I love that “listening for larvae under the bark.” Obviously we all need to take the time to notice and listen–like you did. thank you for sharing your craft with us.
Brilliant! You should have seen me stalking a woodpecker the other day.
I think I have a pretty good idea of what you looked like.
I love the vein of red running through your poem. And, I got pulled over by the CHP on our recent trip to CA for driving too slowly on a very twisty road at dusk. I was peeved. 😉
Were you going slow because it was twisty or because you were admiring the light at dusk?
Every time I’m driving and I see Mt. Rainier on the horizon, I just about crash, it’s so breath-taking. And a woodpecker is smaller but equally beautiful. Maybe you’ll be lucky and get a policeman that’s a poet at heart? Thanks for posting this, Liz. (I agree about the “listening for larvae under the bark” line. That’s beautiful.)
This is wonderful, Liz – and so “you”! Thanks for sharing.
I love the forthrightness of this, Liz. How the second line is a two-word sentence that catches us off guard. The title “Apology” lessens this effect a little. Maybe an alternative — “An Exchange” perhaps?
I love how the poem builds carefully to the charged sounds of “first thick branch” and “the accommodating oak” and “listening for larvae / under the bark.” The k sounds are well-placed.
I wonder if “as he flew by / on undulating waves” might become “as he undulated by” since woodpeckers fly and waves undulate, but a bird undulating gives us something new and more precise.
Nicely done nonetheless!
Steven Withrow
Thanks Steven, I appreciate your thoughtful response.
This made me laugh because I can relate to this need to slow down and see all the things around me. I often pull over before I get pulled over. You may want to try that. 😉
Good idea! Though often I’m driving through the park here and there is no room to pull over. I think I need to walk more!
This is great!
Great poem, Liz, that we poets can relate to. I wonder if our insurance rates should be higher. LOL. I love that the narrator invites the police officer to look too…”but now that you’re here, if you look over there…” Love it! And Happy Thanksgiving! =)