Jamie Seibel, California, United States
History of Folsom Lake
“In my solitude I have woven for myself
a silken web or chrysalis, and nymph-like,
shall ere long burst forth a more perfect
creature, fitted for a higher society.”
—Henry David Thoreau
In the Sierra-Nevada foothills,
I remember how the low water
reveals irrigation ditches and the traces
of Red Bank, an old cattle-ranch settlement.
The silt is a reminder of who we used to be.
Everything changes. Everything is the same.
After years, the eagle returned to its lake,
and Covid-19 made people be alone again.
By ourselves, we transform into wings
and become who we are supposed to be.
I follow my dog on the Johnny Cash trail,
looping back to the start, or back to the end.
Lupinus polyphyllus clings to the roadside,
attracting bees with a pointed tongue, pushing
out other species to absorb more than they need.
As the path finishes I realize, like the lupine,
we take more than we give. But deep inside,
an untouched beauty waits to be found.
An Exchange
My home is a refuge
to wrens and robins
on the windowsill.
Their paper necks
fold to greet me
and teach a song.
Do birds learn
not to be afraid?
Fly to my room
and never leave.
The ceiling rains.
Their red feathers
print against floor.
This is their place
now and forever.
I become a visitor
and nothing more.
Without a word,
I walk to the forest
by the river where
the trees are quiet,
no nests to be found.
In their stead, I linger
beneath the branches,
embracing warm light.
My tongue tastes wind.
My toes feel naked dirt.
My throat opens to sky,
and I begin to sing again.
Jamie Seibel earned a Master's Degree in Creative Writing with an emphasis in poetry from California State University, Sacramento. Her work is forthcoming in Versification Poetry Zine, Wingless Dreamer, and The Chamber Magazine. Her poem "Children of the Sea" was a top finalist for Wingless Dreamer's Seashore Contest. Overall, Jamie's work focuses on mortality, transformation, and the environment. She hopes to publish a collection of eco-poetry one day soon.
