“We Lean Our Backs” by Alex Carrigan

We Leans Our Backs
after Veronica Bennett’s “Menil Park (Kissing a Girl)”

We lean our backs against the trunk of a sandy-grey magnolia tree,
lost in the sounds of the public park sprawled out around us.

Around us are folks who wanted to take some time to enjoy
the outdoors on this Sunday, each attempting to find peace somehow.

Somehow, a group of children have formed a queue to walk up a
slide from the base, competing to reach the top before sliding back down.

Back down by the fountains, a group of mothers appear to commiserate
over shared parenting experiences, debating who has it the hardest.

The hardest thing for me, right now, is to know that anyone in the park could
glance over and realize I’m currently holding your hand and leaning towards you.

I’m leaning towards you and you towards me, each of us wanting to
take a moment under this tree to find enlightenment in our company.

Our company could be interrupted at any moment, so we hold the space
as we lean our backs against the trunk of a sandy-grey magnolia tree.

Alex carrigan

Alex Carrigan is an editor, poet, and critic from Virginia. His work has been reviewed by several different publishers and magazines, such as Quail Bell Magazine, and has been nominated for several awards, such as his debut poetry chapbook, May All Our Pain Be Champagne: A Collection of Real Housewives Twitter Poetry (Alien Buddha Press, 2022).

Headshot: Alex Carrigan

Photo Credit: Staff