John Raffetto
Sea Turtle
The sea turtle is thinking
by the soft algae
as he crawls his slow
breath
under water
his fin kicking away the salt
a scaled eye closes
on sea lava
he speaks a language
of another eon
under waves
when civilization was
coral reefs and clouds.
Now he spots daily
the fleshy legs and arms
taking pictures
knowing his long life
may be shortened due to
the fleshy intruders
as civilization encases
its carapace
over the islands.
A lifelong resident of Chicago. Some of his poetry has been published in print and various online magazine such as Gloom Cupboard, Wilderness House, BlazeVox, Literary Orphans, Arial Chart, Olentangy Review & Exact Change. Nominated for Pushcart Prize 2017. His book Human Botany was recently released in 2020. Holds degrees from the University of Illinois and Northeastern Illinois University. Worked as a horticulturalist and landscape designer for many years at the Chicago Park District which was a rich environment for drawing inspiration for poems concerning nature, people and the city. Formally an adjunct professor.
The sea turtle is thinking
by the soft algae
as he crawls his slow
breath
under water
his fin kicking away the salt
a scaled eye closes
on sea lava
he speaks a language
of another eon
under waves
when civilization was
coral reefs and clouds.
Now he spots daily
the fleshy legs and arms
taking pictures
knowing his long life
may be shortened due to
the fleshy intruders
as civilization encases
its carapace
over the islands.
A lifelong resident of Chicago. Some of his poetry has been published in print and various online magazine such as Gloom Cupboard, Wilderness House, BlazeVox, Literary Orphans, Arial Chart, Olentangy Review & Exact Change. Nominated for Pushcart Prize 2017. His book Human Botany was recently released in 2020. Holds degrees from the University of Illinois and Northeastern Illinois University. Worked as a horticulturalist and landscape designer for many years at the Chicago Park District which was a rich environment for drawing inspiration for poems concerning nature, people and the city. Formally an adjunct professor.