Evolution
       

all morning I practiced not thinking
about you and watched a black
butterfly hover near goldenrod
watched a small brook at the turn
where water pools
before flowing downstream
little creatures cavorted
minnows tadpoles insects
barely visible to the eye

long ago in puddles like this
life moved from water to land
not emerging from swelling oceans
but swimming where water slowed
took a curve and began to dry up
when drought came a few survived
learned to extract oxygen from air
learned there are other ways to breathe

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Copyright © 2017 Jessica de Koninck All rights reserved
from Cutting Room
Terrapin Books
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission