river road

one late night

driving along the river

in fog and light taking rain

a great owl swooped low across the road

and took our breath

its speckled grey coat 

illuminated 

some say good luck some

say bad. our thoughts 

land on friends we lost 

who crashed aside this road how 

sad. tonight we give our tears 

it's all we have

#katyamills

spectre. 1893

The giant octopus
first was observed
starboard

starboard side of our
vessel

an omen
in an ink black
bottomless
sea

in eighteen ninety
three

we lost our course
that night
we lost our senses
too

the sky was starred
and moored
in reflective tar
black residue

the barnacles amassed
upon our hull
off-white shining
fell

down
into the
deep

And soon our maiden
voyage and we

would also
to the
deep

and
hasten
to our
sleep

the author. october