In the beginning was the worm, and the worm was with a clod. And the worm was Claude. He was with a clod in the beginning, and through them all things were made. Without the worms and the germs and the clods of dirt, nothing was made that is now of this earth.

The dirt was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the heap. And Claude was hungering over the mud and the mire.

And Claude said, “Let there be bite”; and then he took a bite. And seeing that it was good, he took another bite. And from the soil he divided the clay. And from the clay, he divided the nitrogen. So that was the first clay.

Then Claude looked up at the clouds and down at the clods. And when Claude separated the clods from the clouds, he could see the heavens and the earth. And he saw that this was good.

Then with the next clay, Claude created the mounds and the knolls. Then he called on the dirt and the soil to bring forth the grass, the herbs, and every tree and fruit.

“Blessed are the seeds,” he said, “for the seeds shall inhabit the dirt.” And in due season, they would inhabit every heath and hillock.

Then Claude planted a garden. That garden would flourish with every tree that was good for food, and Claude saw that it was good. But not every tree was meant for eating.

Inside and outside of the garden, Claude crept. And in due season the garden was inhabited by humans, including but not necessarily limited to, both man and woman. And Claude wondered whether they were good.

Man and woman ate freely from the garden, but many plates were left unfinished. Many articles were cast out of the garden. There were leftovers and there were forbidden fruits. There were residues and there were residuals, and Claude saw that they were all good. And so the worm dwelt among the garbage of eaten.

It was a golden age for nematodes. All things were fruitful and all things multiplied. It was a time to be born and a time to plant. To everything there was a seasoning, and thyme for every purpose.

Whatever could be seasoned was rendered with seasoning. And what needed no seasoning was rendered unto Claude. And what Claude had joined together, no man or woman could tear asunder.

Then one day, Claude found himself in the valley of the shadow. Man and woman had stacked brick upon brick, building a tower whose top might reach the heavens. Until once again, darkness was on the face of the sheep.

Claude opposed their pride, but man and woman had sacrificed their only true sun and the light of the world. In the darkness, the flowers wilted, the vines withered, and the gourds worked in mysterious ways.

Forced to choose between the tree of life and the root of evil, every man woman and child decided for themselves. Even with twenty pieces of silverware, no man could serve two platters.

The sun came up and the sun went down. The cycle repeated but the lightbulbs would not be diminished and the darkness would not be mollified. Some travelled west and some travelled east. Some put down roots and others were uprooted. Some encountered generosity while others met with animosity. Some saved their clods and others paved over them. And for many generations, Claude was nowhere to be seen.

Then from the mist, a soft voice echoed. Those with the ears of corn could hear it, and those with the eyes of potatoes could see it. Until the cornucopia runneth over, with thanks and praises to the water and the sun and the whole compost.

Lettuce pray.

Burn the dross with
steady heat.
Constant regulation
under furnace's feet.
Not too hot,
not too cold.
Steadily discover
the Goldilocks zone.

There's a blackening,
then the white-
before red comes
into play.
And there we find
the malleability
we seek for
every day.

Quietly in the forest
submissively being smallest
pines stand.
The snow covers land,
it hides pines from evil,
and cools down fever.

Everything in the forest is numb,
waiting for the sun.
When will spring come?
The trees propped up heavy sky,
but cold winter will cry
with melted snow ...
... and then die.

Birds don't sing
waiting for spring
and the wind died down.
But spring is coming
helping the wind to blow out
this snow.

This ice will melt and then flow,
the ground will soak up all blood.
The nature renews
and young grass will grow though mud.

And storms then will shake
mercilessly these trees
and all bad just with ease.

Then flowers will bloom
letting world come alive,
and mentions of gloom all will dry
letting nature to thrive.

--
(Ukrainian)

Спокійно у лісі
Покірно під снігом
Сосни стоять.
Той сніг як завіса
Сховає від зла,
Нехай собі сплять.

Все в лісі завмерло,
Чекає на сонце,
Весни ще нема.
Дерева підперли
Небо важке,
Холодна зима.

Птахи не співають,
Чекають весни
І вітер притих.
Весна наступає
Ще вітер роздує
Цей сніг.

Розтане цей лід
Кров в землю піде
Як вода
Оновиться світ
Трава наросте
Молода.

І бурі прийдуть
Розструсять нещадно
Цей ліс
Погане зметуть
Дощем все освятять
Наскрізь.

Квітки зацвітуть
І все оживе,
Це краса.
Тихенько підуть
Всі згадки зими
В небеса.

Through twisted bars of dark wrought iron
I see the shining golden home.
There once I’d been in my personal Zion
from which I’d freely roam.

But now I note I’ve lost the key
to this imposing gate:
I stand outside, trying hard to see
what caused this change of fate.

When and why did I turn my back
on this inner keep of peace?
How to drop the sackcloth black
and find a new release?

Now I must pull me up
and scale these castle walls
that I myself had built
before I took this fall.

For my sake and for those I love
it’s time to find my way
back to where sounds of cooing doves
becalmed me, come what may.

Date written: July 19, 2024
yisselakh@myyahoo.com


Glowworm

By: Yisselakh

Verse 1:

Oh what more is there to say
About the beetle with new clothes
About the beetle with a new name
This as close as a speck of dust
Can get to catch a star

Bridge:

I know it won't be far
I can see the sparks
And you know
I'll never stray from the path
And you know
I'll never stray from the path

Chorus:

So
Light the way
Light the way
Light the way

So
Light the way
Light the way
Light the way

Verse 2:

I must have been waiting
Since the dawn of days
As you hid within the tall grass blades
When the weary eyes of dusk sway
Blink between time and that eternal place
I'll see you ascend above this maze

Chorus:

And
Light the way
Light the way
Light the way

And
Light the way
Light the way
Light the way

Bridge 2:

Back to innocence, back to the ancient dream
And this time,
I'll stay
You'll stay
We'll stay
And see

CODA:

The wasteland of sorrow
We left behind
Ebbs away, fades away
In the light, with the night
In the light, with the night
Oh love of mine
Love of mine
Love of mine
Isn't this just divine
You and I
And all we love
For all of life