Suddenly, the growing sound of rushing water
drowns out the noise in my head.

A cascading collision
between the gentle stream
Broken chunks of
concrete carrying
my attention with it.

The neighborhood is cradled
in the soft embrace
at the creek as it
ambles across the landscape.

A rare waterway
seemingly untouched by people
except for a single glaring
plastic food wrapper flapping
in the current
contaminating my pristine calm.

- Nic Custer