Displacement

sideways is frontways if you turn to the left, 
and backways is sideways from there,
and a step to the right with a spin around twice,
another twirl and a flip in the air.
but wait that's not right! from where'd you begin?
all the people are starting to stare.
it matters not if you turn to one side
and collapse to the ground in despair.
there’s nowhere to go, each direction is blocked,
yet there’s quite a big secret to share,
what you’ve truly been doing, right from the start
was filling a basin with care.

This poem was originally featured in the March 2026 Pink Moon issue of our monthly almanac, the Liminal.

*Fox & Thistle Studio passionately invites minstrels and musicians to weave our verses into melodies of their own — and to share the song with us if you do.

All poems by Richard W. Saunders, presented by Fox & Thistle Studio.