“the harvest and the woods”, Ally Chua

you carry a basket and a safety charm
the harvest lies ripe and heavy
no wolves on the wind nor hanging trees
darling there is still light outside.

the harvest takes you into the woods
you carry a basket and a safety charm
threadbare trees, no wolves on the wind
darling your whistling come through

threadbare trees, dark shadows between
the harvest lies rotted and bleeding
you carry a basket, charm lost in the woods
darling the dark is coming

the wolves on the wind and threadbare trees
your basket in the mud with bloodied fruit
the harvest lies rotted and bleeding
darling I can't see you --

out of the woods your shadow appears
darling your knees, they bend the wrong way
darling your whistling is not quite the same
the wolves on the wind, they sound like you

/ Ally Chua works in the communications industry, and writes when she's not replying emails within seven working days. She is the 2019 Singapore Unbound Fellow for New York City, and a member of local writing collective /s@ber. Ally has been published in Quarterly Literary Review Singapore, Cordite Poetry Review and SingPoWriMo 2018: The Anthology.

2019.3Daryl Qilin YamPoetry