at dusk from the dry weeds
on the roadside a skunk
emerged sleepily
to shamble across the hot
pavement
saw me passing
was startled
hesitant
turned back into the thorns
quietly, unsure of my steps
I paused, then moved on
nodded a silent greeting
turned my flashlight away
didn't look back
“Walking at Night” was printed in Tracks, No. 9 of Inwood Indiana. Pick up the paperback from Prolific Press; the stories and poems published online are free to read here.
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