2 poems by Katy Naylor “Reflections” and “Flight”

Reflections

Sometimes, in the evening 
when my words scatter thin over the fireplace 
and your silence has settled heavy on the eaves
I go out to the lake, knee deep
and walk and walk through the cold weeds until my legs are numb

I see my face, far down in the splintering starlight
its gaze does not waver 

Beneath the water I can feel it stir 
wrenching crackle 
core spinning hot 
ripples slicing to the very edge of vision 

I am not sure which will be worse: 
if, when I return you notice the change 
- that the freckle that was once over my right eye is now over my left - 
or if you don't. 

Under my breath, I start to count


Flight

I watch you closely as you speak
a hairbreadth’s tension webbed across your jaw
I shake out the smile I save for best
brace for the recoil

You think you have my heart 
but what you hold is a decoy

Beneath your line of sight
is a small trembling thing
primed 
for the faintest rustle in the leaves
the chance to bolt for daylight

One more beat I’ll be flushed out
a trail of blood and feathers in my wake


Bio: Katy Naylor lives by the sea, in a little town on the south coast of England. She writes poetry, fiction and text adventure games in the time that falls between the cracks.She has work published or upcoming in Outcast Press, The Bear Creek Gazette and Not Deer Magazine. She can be found on twitter @voidskrawl