Stella Marie Nall
HAVE YOU EVER HAD A CRUSH, Stella Marie Nall
REFLECTION, Stella Marie Nall
BE FREE, EARLTON SKREE
There once was a man
named Earlton Skree.
He lived in a house
on a hill
by a tree.
Each time he blinked
he would stay for awhile:
his eyes closed tight,
his lips in a smile.
Under his lids
what did he see?
Whatever it was
it filled him with glee.
He liked it much more
than the house by the tree -
With its yard to mow
its apples to seed
the sun in his eyes
the pain in his knees
the mortgage to pay
the dishes to clean.
The lines on his face,
they grew deeper each day,
the more that he blinked
the longer he stayed.
One day he woke
at his usual time
and opened the windows,
pulled up the blinds.
He opened the door
to check on the tree
to step outside,
see what he would see.
Whatever it was
he wasn’t impressed.
So he went back inside,
no bother to dress.
He left open the door
and sat on the floor
that world out there,
he didn’t want anymore.
His breathing felt heavy
his eyes felt dry
with a lump in his throat
he wanted to cry:
but he got up from the floor,
first to his knees.
He paused there a bit
as though waiting to sneeze the air
it felt still
in that house on the hill
thick with intention,
waiting to spill.
Then up from his knees
stood Earlton skree:
so fast did he stand,
he felt almost a breeze.
No more ache in his heart
No more throb in his feet
No more wishing
No longing
No waiting for he.
Poor Earlton Skree
He could finally be free:
One last look through the window
and he closed the blinds
shut the door
left the outside behind.
Back into bed,
under blankets he sighed.
He closed his eyes,
but not blinking this time:
The rest of his life,
he would live in his mind.
—Stella Marie Nall
HEART + BODY, Stella Marie Nall