The Lives of Kites

some years ago there came an errant kite

from heights unknown, descending breeze with glee.

in drifting down, it veered off course in flight

and snagged upon the tallest poplar tree.

despite the frantic pull of frightened wind,

the kite was lost and stranded far astray.

each time i passed, its color waned and thinned

from red to pink, from pink to ghastly gray.

it languished there upon its poplar perch

until its silk dissolved to drooping thread

and then one day there came a sudden lurch

as cotton clouds of seed were flung and shed.

the kite’s remains reclaimed their place on high

as slivers shimmered sweetly through the sky.

• August 2025

Submission History

Date	Publication	Status
August 27, 2025	Sligo Creek Publishing	Pending
August 27, 2025	La Piccioletta Barca	Pending
August 29, 2025	The Aftershock Review	Pending
August 29, 2025	Arcturus	Pending
August 29, 2025	AC DC: Journal for the Bent	Rejected
August 29, 2025	Hare’s Paw Literary Journal	Rejected
August 29, 2025	Thirteen Bridges Review	Pending
September 3, 2025	Hopkins Review	Pending