We placed the dead turtle
up high on the bank so we could find it again
with head and feet and snug tail gone
by way of the worm.

It happened quick, the disappearing inside.
But so much disappeared and so quickly
the shell simply fell in my hands
when next found. 

So we scattered it,
some to the water, some to the mud—
most left in a pile of emptiness

next to something that was.

©

Matt Dennison is the author of Kind Surgery, from Urtica Press (Fr.) His work has appeared in Rattle, Bayou Magazine, Redivider, Natural Bridge, The Spoon River Poetry Review and Cider Press Review, among others. He has also made short films with Michael Dickes, Swoon, Marie Craven and Jutta Pryor.

Going Back previously published (Roanoke Review/2012/print).