Poetry by Allan Scherlen
Open the car windows
and feel
the sea breeze blowing
through seats—
thick with smell
of salt and sand;
we drove over rice fields;
seagulls swarmed
the field’s grain;
and we crossed a causeway bridge—
seeing birds soar
over mirrors of water fields,
our family singing to the radio,
with enthusiasm for the sea.
Allan Scherlen’s experience is rooted in San Antonio and exploring roads along the Gulf of Mexico; eventually he moved to the Appalachia mountains. Along the way, poetry arose. And some friendly animals stuck around. Trips to Mexico and China influenced his writing. Being a librarian brought him close to books. For a specially-created video of this poem, please visit YouTube.
