in this warm cup of darkness
raised in shade beneath a canopy of trees
sheltering an abundance
—vines and ferns, shrubs and flowers
in an understory rooted in soil rich with life
microbes thriving, worms churning
beneath small mammals scampering
ants marching in busy formation
butterflies festooning branches
dragonflies, wasps, bees, flies swarming
spiders throwing silk from spinnerets
frogs croaking and peeping, serenading mates
salamanders undulating in hidden pools
warblers, grosbeaks, tanagers singing
flocks overwintering before spring travels
bats chittering late in the day—
is the satisfying taste of connectivity
each smooth and complex sip
a journey and a gift
Daun Daemon’s stories and poems have appeared in Yellow Arrow Journal, The Atlanta Review, Deep South Magazine, Third Wednesday, Salvation South, Amsterdam Quarterly and many more journals and anthologies. Her memoir in poetry, A Prayer for Forgiving My Parents (Kelsay Books), was published in 2023. Daemon lives in Raleigh NC with her husband and three cats. More can be found at daundaemon.com.