Rubixs, The Turtle

A feather pillow screams

while the stuffed artificial blend holds your neck

like the crook of a lover’s arm

without pinched nerves

or hot sweat

***

I went for a walk today to get rid of the morning

Sweat

A sour mountain I frequent

to catch breath

Through the hilly bits of a well-marked trail

inside the grass, among broad trees

on the crooked bend to the lake

I found a turtle

Grumpy

His little arms in between as I picked him up

His head withdrew further in

I smiled at him

Little Rubix's cube

sinking by squares

***

All I wanted

was to take him home

and feed him my organic lettuce

***

He sulked in his shell

unwilling to answer my gentle taps

***

I let him go

After the sun set

behind the moon

Great company. He was hungry. I bet.

***

I found out later that he was a common land turtle

I never did see him again

***

Lucky for him

I didn’t dump him in the river

I thought he could swim.