The Gardener moves
a plant suddenly.
The plant does not know
where it will go,
knowing only home
familiar place
with friends all around
close and touching
unaware
they are too close
to grow well.
The new place
is open, spacious
with old friends
of long ago.
Friends at home
in grief conclude
that he had died.
Oct 23, 2020
Oct 23, 2020 at 2:28 AM UTC
Earthrising
caught us all
by surprise,
unprepared
to see,
for the first time
how singular the earth
floats in space.
We thought the moon
exploration,
new worlds,
were the goal
instead,
humanity amazed
to discovered oneness:
one planet,
one homeland,
one human race.
Oct 23, 2020
Oct 23, 2020 at 2:25 AM UTC
“Take off your clothes!”
It was strange,
but we did,
the whole room full
of women and girls
watched by male guards.
“Take off all jewelry!”
Bracelet and necklace
were easy –
off they came.
But earrings were a problem.
I’d kept loosing them,
and still would.
They slipped
from my pierced ears
so mother had
them soldiered closed.
“Now,” she said,
“one pair
will last your life,”
and they almost did
except for now.
They must come off
but couldn’t.
The simple, efficient,
final solution?
Cut my ears!
Oct 22, 2020
Oct 22, 2020 at 7:48 PM UTC
Broken glass
filled the streets
dignity destroyed
and livelihoods.
Thousand years of culture burned
in one planned
“random” riot –
government approved.
Barbarity arose
against imagined enemies
who were not.
Broken glass
shattered lives
terror reigned
against helpless millions –
nations stood unmoving.
Never again. Never…
NEVER AGAIN!
Oct 22, 2020
Oct 22, 2020 at 7:44 PM UTC
Orange orb
silently rising
from the land
witness to eons
and ages
of human history
and so much, much more.
Primitives gazed in wonder
and awe
and some prayed.
Later men adored.
Later still, we walked
and will soon live
and work
and travel far.
It pulled us up,
taught respect,
and sent us to the stars.
Sep 27, 2012
Sep 27, 2012 at 6:45 PM UTC
Metropolis, Chokia now,
of the ancient prairie,
center of civilization
and sacred mysteries:
the observatory circle
of wooden poles
and the sacred hill
for the holy ones,
center of network trade
thousands of miles linked -
all was right
and ordered.
Smaller cities around,
and far away,
formed a coherent world,
the sun rose,
the sun set -
at the proper times.
Then the Spirits departed:
rain ceased,
crops died,
hunting fled -
and the world began to fail:
starving, dying -
the center did not hold.
Survivors scattered…
and no one knows the end.
Sep 27, 2012
Sep 27, 2012 at 6:44 PM UTC
On a lonely country road,
gravel,
winding through hills,
along the creeks;
two friends,
a drive of relaxation:
Where does this road go?
What will we see?
Around a curve
suddenly
in the trees -
a herd of buffalo
standing
but too still to be true:
silhouettes with details
accurately painted,
quickly passed –
wishing they were real.
Sep 27, 2012
Sep 27, 2012 at 6:42 PM UTC