Tish Davis

The Apple Seller

1.

deep
in this darkness
the tick of my wind up clock—
the apple seller’s horse
clip-clopping down my red-brick street 

Once again . . . 

I’m about to run up the steps of the covered front porch of my childhood home when the only ghosts were the dandelion clocks my sister and I mud-glued in between the slate-gray boards. 

Two dwellings share the three black numerals centered on the weathered porch post.  Our grandmother bought this place for her two oldest sons. How was she to know that while one family would take root and never leave this harbor town, the children of the other would be split up and sent to live in a distant city?

Mother is sick and has been away for a very long time; she’s back in the hospital where parents go when they hear sounds and see things that aren’t really there.  She says she misses the garden— our father turning the dirt by hand on our side of the narrow backyard. She misses the chestnut mare and the apple seller in his red-and-black checkered shirt, holding onto the reins while calling out to customers. 

. . . And that morning’s darkness. Our father, rummaging through our closet looking for his hunting rifle and then silently standing in between our twin beds. Finally, before kissing us good-bye, his whisper, so clear even now. 

“I’m not going to work today … ” 

And then that daily reminder to make sure my five-year-old sister is awake and dressed so we’re on time for breakfast with our aunt and cousins who live upstairs. 

2.

crimson 
in shades of self inflicted . . .    
my uncle calling out     
crying out after finding 
our father in his car 

3.

The horse whinnies.  The apple seller calms her, “Hush, hush.” 

He knows I always ask him to wait while I run inside to look for nickels. In the dream he’s waiting to see if this time, I open the other door.  

not yet scattered
by creatures we don’t know
apple blossoms
in a bowl  
on my bed-stand

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About the Author

Tish Davis lives in Northern Ohio. Her tanka and related forms have appeared in numerous online and print publications. When she isn’t busy with work and grandchildren she enjoys exploring the local parks with her husband and three dogs.

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