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Bayside Morning
The surface of Lake Huron,
across St. Martin Bay,
ground perfectly smooth
with a diamond chip sander.
Driftwood stumps and branches,
mirrored twins in the shallow water.
Overcast sky brushed in
pale pink, with which
the lake agrees.
On the bed, atop the comforter,
he lies naked on his belly,
which expands, contracts
with his gentle snores,
encouraged by the
serene water,
still air.
Lake and sky all but
indistinguishable
except where an artist
has begun to sketch out
a horizon in grey chalk.
- M. J. Arcangelini
M. J. Arcangelini, (b.1952, Pennsylvania) resides in northern California. He has published extensively in both print and online formats, and in more than a dozen anthologies. He is the author of 8 published collections, the most recent of which are the full-length Pawning My Sins, (Luchador Press, 2022), and the chapbooks Fierce Kisses (Rebels & Squares Press, 2024) and Hooking Up (Pure Sleaze Press, 2025). He has been nominated twice for a Pushcart Prize.