My pen is still—a silent fishing pole

Hither and thither words are -floating by

upon a river true—a chanting soul

that sings a song about the moon and sky

My feet are wet—the bell—my heart it tolls

The line shakes my hand and I cannot lie

I hope to catch a piece of light to hold

A patch of night would do—I want to fly

away from here into a mist of gold

and dive into a dream—that Gatsby eye

Released from earthly folds of rust and mold

where mortal maps are ripped—nooses untied

I reel a sonnet in and let it go—

a streak of silver—it swims away aglow.

Patricia Cannon was a Registered Nurse at UCSF for over two decades. She worked in various fields of critical care, including cardiac critical care and neuro-intensive care, heme-oncology, and research. Patricia finds solace in her faith and creative expression in photography and poetry. Her book, Wild Heart, has been published by The Poetry Box and is available on major online platforms and local bookstores. https://thepoetrybox.com/bookstore/wild-heart