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Phantoms
After the geraniums’ red had bled
to pink, foliage curled to furls
of brown,
after the trees’ leaves had struck gold
then folded, fallen in loss across
the lawn,
after the water, caught in the flower pots,
had frozen, forming icy grins around
the rims,
after the birds had deserted their perches
in the evergreens, packed their wings for
someplace warm,
two butterflies, phantom white, glided
together, touching and untouching, unphased
by winter’s chill, like two spirits of their past
selves or snowflakes come to life, fragile
crystal harbingers.
- Linda Neal Reising
A native of Oklahoma and citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Linda Neal Reising has been published widely in journals and anthologies. She is the author of two poetry chapbooks and four full-length poetry collections, including her most recent, Navigation (Kelsay Books, 2025). Reising was named the Official Eclipse Poet of Indiana, and her work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize five times. Her other awards include the Writer's Digest Poetry Prize, the Eric Hoffer Award, the Western Heritage Book Award, and the Best Indie Book Award. Her first book of short stories, Cigar Box of Loss: Stories from Route 66, is forthcoming from Belle Point Press.