II.

We are sentimental by 

nature. We step on 

the ground, grass soft 

on our muddy feet,

leaving tracks

on the white carpet.

It is not enough.

            We leave

            our initials on 

bathroom walls.

A lock on rotting wood 

bridges. A plastic bottle

on the shore.

The world is ours. 

            No mine. 

            No yours. 

            No

it is not natural,

that man standing 

by the rack

of travel brochures,

a rest stop away from 

home, dreaming of

where he will never go.

But we will

look by, walk by, drive by,

and give him a nod, 

saluting him for 

thinking. and you go on

to leave your mark

on nature:

a stain of dirt 

on your white shoes

that doesn’t 

wash off

as easy as

the black water

we swim in.

               tessa juliane