I knew one day I’d sail off the edge of the world into the mouth of a smiling dragon.

The world is flat & the wind has its way. So here I come!

SAILING OFF THE EDGE OF THE WORLD BY ANNE LEIGH PARISH 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 68

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I knew one day I’d sail off the edge of the world

Into the mouth of a smiling dragon

That’s me on the painted medieval ship

Canvas billowing

Men pulling the ropes in terror

STOP!

But the world is flat & the wind has its way

So here I come!

Why so much glee, Dragon?

You hungry for me?

I will leave your tongue bitter

And you won’t be smiling then—

But I like your style and

Will take you on, if you

Only douse the flame and blow

So, what do you say? 

Let’s dump this scaredy-cat crew

And sail away, for a year and a day

Until the world turns round.

ANNE LEIGH PARRISH

I’ve been writing forever. Until 2018, I wrote only fiction, but then branched out into poetry. Poetry magnifies the soul in a way prose doesn’t. I think one must look into the mirror. Often a monster looks back. I say stare it down, conquer it, make it serve you. Novels I’ve published: Maggie’s Ruse, The Amendment, Women Within, and What Is Found, What Is Lost; and short story collections: By The Wayside, Our Love Could Light The World, and All The Roads That Lead From Home. anneleighparrish.com