Eric Huff

Creeping Charlie

in those days creeping charlie filled in all the shady spots of our backyard and after storms we’d go and pick up sticks knocked loose. I remember pulling back on either end of the larger ones with the center against my knee waiting for it to splinter or snap. we could be out there all afternoon and there’d be more sticks still. back in those days I always wanted to find some sort of ancient artifact or really any clue as to who had lived on this land before we did. once I found a bit of ceramic and another time, a glass medicine bottle. when my parents sold the house, the buyers tore it all down and built some monstrosity in its print. no, I don’t blame them but there are nights where the thought pushes its green tendrils across the dirt of my mind. did the maple survive? what about the cottonwood? guess there’s no knowing now.