In the Arms of a Peachleaf Willow off I-55
- In the Arms of a Peachleaf Willow off I-55
a flittering of rust-bellied birds chirp like smoke alarmslow on battery.
From tendrils of shade,I sketch a ribbonsnake unwinding on a stone,
as airplane left linesfade like deniminto the darkening sky.
A semi lies—jackknifed—in the median of the interstate.The air is thick with diesel.
Radio personalities spilllike lukewarm coffeeout of passing car windows.
If I listen close,I can almost heara freckle of a man
on the shoulder of Exit 13—shakinghis styrofoam cuptambourine. [End Page 52]
Collin Callahan
Collin Callahan was born in Illinois. His poems have appeared in Blue Earth Review, Denver Quarterly, Hobart, and elsewhere. Collin is currently a PhD student in Creative Writing at Florida State University.
