Where two closed gates meet

by Mary Wescott Riser

at the end

of the road

beyond the Cedar Grove Baptist Church

the world is the color of Virginia November:

clay, oak leaves, early dusk, gold earrings.

You touch my fingers as if for the first time

lean back into the evening air

sending your breath to the stars

behind you the moon is a cradle of light, rocking,

and we can see a road

unbarred, ahead.

Her nest is right there!

Only your fine eyes

would see it so close beside the car window

those cardinals hopping, vibrant red feather edges,

snapping up red berries,

living a whole life right there

in that scrubby bush.

How many times have we been here before

and why is it always new?

* * * * *

Mary Wescott Riser worked in Virginia independent schools for 30 years, most recently as Head of School at James River Day School, a K-8 day co-ed day school in Lynchburg, Virginia, where she served as Head for ten years. Mary received her B.A. in English and Philosophy from Georgetown University and her M.F.A. in Poetry from the University of Oregon.  She writes the education blog “What’s Best For the Children?” www.maryriser.org. Mary and her husband, George, live in Covesville, Virginia and have two adult children.