End of the Party

by Karen Yoder

A blinding sun hangs low above Lake Erie
casting a path of coral like an aisle for a king.
Gulls cry farewell, and then
the carpet shimmers, narrows, dancing west to east
across the slate-grey sea. Fluorescent,
the flamingo circle slips behind linen clouds.
The crystal ball
falls, rolls past the edge, the carpet fades
the lights dim.

Karen collects syllables while planting perennials, entertaining first graders, and filling the birdfeeder.

Photography by Kenneth Godoy