National Poetry Month : Ashley Hynd

 

Drift wood

 

Shaped like whale
in downward dog
piece of drift
wood

from the shores
of lake eerie
gathered 

in winter—all bark
eaten or washed
away 

rivets of grain
along spine

as if ocean captured
by skin

as if grief shed
in tide

greying spots

from the stains of time
or sand—almost
but not quiet
smooth

perhaps
in another life
on another
beach

you carried
your young
laden 

with the weight
of their body

 

 

Founder and facilitator of Poets & Pancakes, a monthly brunch for writers, Ashley Hynd believes in building and fostering community. She sits on the editorial board for Canthius Literary Journal & Textile KW. Her work has appeared in several publications including ARC, Room, PRISM, Grain, TNQ, Malahat, Changing the Face of Canadian Literature (Guernica Editions) and Best Canadian Poetry 2020 (Biblioasis) and her debut chapbook Entropy is available with GapRiot Press. Ashley lives on the Haldimand Tract and respects all her relations’ relationships with the land. Her Hobbies Include trampling the patriarchy, avoiding doing the dishes and getting lost in conversations. Follow her on twitter: @ashley_hynd