The Shepherdess, Joan, In Benefit of My Doubt
Beneath the arms of ancient oaks, a solitary girl
perches, face upturned, lips parted, eyes closed.
The ghosts of leaves whisk the earth and whisper
listen—and who can say what words she heard,
what forms were seen? Who can say that angels
don’t appear to call the pure? As daylight dies,
she rises, takes her staff, and leads them home.
Linda Scheller is the author of two full-length poetry collections, Fierce Light (FutureCycle Press, 2017) and Wind & Children (Main Street Rag, 2022) as well as a chapbook, Halcyon. Her poetry and book reviews recently appeared in Colorado Review, On the Seawall, The Wild Word, and Sugar House Review. Honors include Arkana Editor’s Prize, finalist for the 2021 Barrow Street Book Prize, and nominations for Best of the Net and Pushcart prizes. Her website is lindascheller.com.
Beneath the arms of ancient oaks, a solitary girl
perches, face upturned, lips parted, eyes closed.
The ghosts of leaves whisk the earth and whisper
listen—and who can say what words she heard,
what forms were seen? Who can say that angels
don’t appear to call the pure? As daylight dies,
she rises, takes her staff, and leads them home.
Linda Scheller is the author of two full-length poetry collections, Fierce Light (FutureCycle Press, 2017) and Wind & Children (Main Street Rag, 2022) as well as a chapbook, Halcyon. Her poetry and book reviews recently appeared in Colorado Review, On the Seawall, The Wild Word, and Sugar House Review. Honors include Arkana Editor’s Prize, finalist for the 2021 Barrow Street Book Prize, and nominations for Best of the Net and Pushcart prizes. Her website is lindascheller.com.
