Gossip

by Lisa Garff

Backyard gossip

whispers across a fence—

ladies resting

while raking dead,

brittle leaves.

Breezes of murmurings

whisk dandelion puffs

from their stems,

planting seeds

along their path.

Syllables without voice

blow from lips

like ashes shot from the fire,

scattering in the wind

they cannot be

gathered up.

Photo by Lynn Howlett

Illustrated by Chris Diener

Photo by Ned James