Bisshie

The Outsider

Absolute bliss. A walk on a sunny spring day as far as the high marshes. The farmer has left one field next to the frog ponds to its own devices this year. It’s full of colour, long green grass, red poppies, blue cornflowers, and something white.

There, near the top of the field a young man cavorts and whoops with obvious delight. His shirt circles his head, his snow-white chest, bare.

His joy is infectious. My joy is tinged with sadness, because sooner or later someone will call the police or his mum. 

at the edge
of the legume field
brassica flowers

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About the Author

Bisshie is the pen name for Patricia McGuire, who lives in Zürich, Switzerland. She is managing editor of The Poetry Pea Podcast and Poetry Pea Journal (poetrypea.com and youtube.com/@PoetryPea). A Pushcart-nominated poet whose haiku was shortlisted for The Haiku Foundation’s 2021 Touchstone Award, she has published work in Autumn Moon Journal, Frogpond, Bones, Blithe Spirit, and many other journals.

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