published in River and South, May 2018
What Moss Says
by Penelope Scambly Schott
There's enough moss to go around
is what I say to myself.
When I lived on the East Coast
moss only said North,
but here in rainy western Oregon
moss proclaims I embrace.
The circumference of each branch
is wrapped in Old Man's Beard.
When I must abandon my used body
in this damp forest
moss will whisper Welcome, sister
as it dresses my ivory bones.
Fairy Falls, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
photo from iClipArt