California
redwoods in my heart
banana slugs in my toes
oak trees in my fingers
ceanothus in my nose
crab in my belly
blackberries on my tongue
lichen in my hair
sea salt in my lungs
mountains run along my spine
earthquakes shake my hips
with poppies blooming in my ears
grizzly bears in my tears
wildfires in my fears
and gold dust on my lips
banana slugs in my toes
oak trees in my fingers
ceanothus in my nose
crab in my belly
blackberries on my tongue
lichen in my hair
sea salt in my lungs
mountains run along my spine
earthquakes shake my hips
with poppies blooming in my ears
grizzly bears in my tears
wildfires in my fears
and gold dust on my lips
This poem is copyright (©) Peggy Kelly 2025
About the Writer
Peggy Kelly
Peggy is a teacher, writer, and poet, as well as a fellow of the South Coast Writing Project, a Crystal Apple Educator Award recipient, and the author of Peg’s Picks, a weekly email newsletter for teachers. Her writing has been published or is forthcoming in California English, Out of the Ground, Women in a Golden State, and elsewhere.
