In a backyard, messed and wild,
Nature’s chaos is compiled.
Soggy grass beneath my seat,
A realm forlorn, where soft I meet.
The trees, once trimly, now stand tall,
Boughs reach out, an untamed sprawl.
Tangled, snarled, a silent plea,
To let the wild in me be free.
This fair haven, fraught and tossed,
Bemused by rain, a damp exhaust.
Grass, much sodden, yields my weight,
Bugs dance verdant in this state.
Mossy stones and jilted toys,
Dreams of laughter, distant joys.
Air now heavy with decay,
Life persists in its own way.
Tiny dancers on this stage,
Songs of Faunus, they engage.
In her chaos, wield delight,
Whetted haven, soft twilight.
Trees lean tired, weary, worn,
Yet in leaves are secrets borne.
Backyard wild, where spirits guide,
Bugs console me by their side.
An unkempt yard, where dreams inlay,
I never chose, but now I stay.
For in its midst, I find I’m free,
The bugs, the trees, the grass, and me.
Mattie Frascella is an English major at Kennesaw State University with minors in Professional Writing and Language & Literary Studies. After raising five children, running three small art businesses, and working for several years in the healthcare industry, she returned to college to complete the degree she had begun before starting a family. A study abroad alum and ultrarunner, she writes poetry and creative nonfiction that explore aging, grief, and cross-cultural connection. Her work has appeared in U.S. and international publications, and she is passionate about helping other “late bloomers” reclaim their stories.
Image from Freepik