The Scrappy Things

Three kids are swimming
Around the sweeper
Cottonwoods stretched out

Like long arms from shore,
Like longing arms, but
What is likeness? Don’t

Say it’s illusion.
Illusion doesn’t
Exist. Names for what

Is not or can’t be
Found exist as names.
Would you say what is

Not and has no name
Is an illusion?
The shoreline stretches

Longing cottonwood
Arms into the lake,
And three scrappy kids,

Shouting and splashing,
Clamber over them.
Every rock on shore

Resembles itself
Or the others or
Someone’s fairy door.