If that was then
Then this is by no means the end,
Two wheels rolling
And clouds so clear
Even birds faintly pass between them.
A dollar is gone.
Was it an even game?
A hand that served up
Delicious things, unnamed.
An engine that roared
As it began.
Lucky is every lost soul traveling on;
Full tank and such sweetness of a radio,
Then by two, sun’s beating in
Escaping for a moment into shade.
Watch Clouds and every bird so clear.
That was then and now is the end.
At once I thundered through the forest
Chapter to my name
Dust had neither settled nor swept
Alarm for every cocoon
Axe in one hand, saw the other
Limbs begone, forever cleared
Forest to grow strong and free
And let live as can live
Diversity amidst the settlers
Forgive the intrusion
I am to be human.
I shall not live in a desert;
My barren land doth not make clear,
Nor doth skies hold down tears.
No, abyss joins the delicate dance
Of wildflowers and hills
Vibrantly flowing down antelope runaways
And into the heart of my soul
That casts away tumbleweeds
Fearlessly, with purification
Given freely by water
– Plentiful and valuable elexir –
Escaping the death do us part.
I witnessed it in clear view sight
I could not look away
I had no escape route planned
There I was, watching it go on
And here I now remember each detail
Every inch of every sequence
I have no way to erase it
I am a clear witness
I loved a maiden in the dark
She never asked my name
Though she cried out loud and clear
A bird she flew away
Goodnight says firefly
As darkness takes me away
Swallow wishes for me a star
Landing on my door
Did the heart of my song
Ring out to you wrong?
Wrote it down twice
Just to make sure I’s clear,
For lost in verse
Was my biggest fear
That reached down to me
From an overhead cloud
Grabbed on, brought on the sea
Right to my heart;
So torrential soaking
Left the biggest swell
Inside my song
That rang out all night
Into a saucer holding tea
Comforting me that I am now free.
Oh Sun, so warm and fulfilling
Guide me to inner peace
Leave my worries to melt away
Bring my joys to me so dear.
Oh Sun, calling me close
Your eminence so clear
Like sweet fragrance all around
Your essence transparent, clear.
Oh Sun, so awakening
So enlivening to all you know
Your mark upon my rooted nerve
Is everlasting my good cheer.
I am sorry kind gentleelk
I have never been to the Rivers Pass
Though I have heard from friends
That the water there
Is exceptionally clear
I once had an Uncle
Who would go every year
For what he would call
Elaksation Elkscursions
Mother would roll her eyes
Whenever he would say this
I would ask him what that meant
And mother would tell him
Not to fill my head with such nonsense.
Fair maiden there with eyes so clear
Tell a lost soul what bringeth thee near
Is it wild wars off over yonder
Beyond wild seas, a long lasting wander
Or has this land been the land of your fathers
This same land we walk on here a bit farther
For before my own eyes, a twinkling star
In all of mine travelling, yonder afar
I’ve come upon no fairer
I’ve met none more pretty
Then you, my fair lady of the fine woven silks
Your hair of such golden
As would make the Jews bolden
Your eyes of such clarity
Like a fine northern summer sky
Your features so pleasant
I’ve come to the present;
My fair lady before me,
Please me so with thy name
The perfect pitch that follows me around town
Through the back of the bushes with a hand of her skirt
Down the cobblestones on the squeaky bike
Over the bridge with the perfect arc
And the crystal clear water with the biggest fish around
The same one that whispered in my ear as I sipped on the morning tea
Admiring the speed at which the croissant oiled the paper it came wrapped in
That stopped the spread of a thousand tiny crumbs
Through the hair that felt good today
And the warm sun that easily was enjoying the morning as much as I
This is the breath that I inhale as I think
That pushes me forth into the pastures so free
And gallantly holds my head up high as I
Hold up my hand and shout the perfect pitch that rattles through my teeth
This is how I stretch in the morning, inviting the day to begin