What Moss Says by Penelope Scambly Schott

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