The Hermit

I wonder 
what it’s like 
to be you, 
claws and all 

attentive 
only to a tidepool 
beneath this sky
of-all-things

I envy your
pocketless-ness
and the other folds
you lack 
for collecting
trepidations

there is no
malignancy of words
in shallow water

no dashed hopes

no fickle dreams

it’s just you
— solitary — 
spinning
with a sand swirl
when the tide comes in

expecting nothing of 
expectations 

— ERIKA SESHADRI 

Erika Seshadri lives on an animal rescue ranch in Florida with her family. When not caring for tame critters or feral children, she can be found writing. Her work has appeared in Stonecrop Magazine, Burningword Literary, Funicular, Button Eye Review, Quibble Lit, Hare’s Paw Literary, Closed Eye Open, and others.