NIGHT VISION©
SPEAK NOW OR FOREVER
traditions are hand-me-downs
shop worn, somewhat shiny, with rounded edges
out of place in new circumstances
perhaps salvageable if re-purposed
because they travel in teams
favoring ways that have worked before
until somehow the game is changed
the field is redrawn
and players step over lines that have moved
dare their former mates
or perhaps edit them out
like a nose seen unavoidably in a mirror
with a sidelong glance
hold up the mirror and
duck!
before it is smashed
this has all been said before
nothing new
(heads nod in agreement)
it's almost a tradition
yea, verily
until it gets real
say that humans from on high
have been granted dominion
or that human technology rules
(more nods)
or that domination is temporary
a game changer
say that the planet is polluted by rampant egoism
elevated to a credo of progress
by human wastes causing climate change
degradation of biodiversity
a pall of destruction over the earth
duck!
but the game has changed
the earth tells us so
climate change, if not the end
is just the beginning
a new and present danger
bringing ways outside the range of tradition
technology has joined the team
new plays
becoming literally part of us
assimilation that redefines humanity
things that step over the line
as in nuclear power and war
we can do better
and who will speak for what we can become?
listen to who you are
PLUMP DAISEYS
in the age of reason
a raisin is sweet inside
getting wrinkled
days of wine
a concert at the vineyard
speak of precognition, telepathy, clairvoyance
and become a spoiler
imagine coils of DNA
but not the spirit of a Taiko drum
such experience ignores authority
will not be packaged or sold
is insubordinate
and might inspire social change
clearly unprofitable and dangerous
or worse
it bypasses religions
laughs at hierarchy
makes anarchy and atheism irrelevant
personal experience pierces the arrow of time
ignores illusions of space
in short it's either madness or music
depending on who makes the call
or call it freedom
a musical performance might be commanded
but talent has no master
enjoy the concert
QUESTIONNAIRE
as many people as are on the planet
anyone who stomps a foot cannot miss it
yet each person recreates their own
outliers are imagined
the whole globe is marked with a grid:
mine][yours][ours][theirs
the grid chops what was whole into pieces
that try to exist on their own
many disagreements and wars
everything withers
as many planets as there are people
a few try to co-exist
others want everyone to fit into their own true planet
discontent is not their fault
some refuse to participate in absurdity
a few try to destroy everything
what no one can recreate is creation itself
ignored are those who experience the planet
all its people
and the universe of what is and is not
as one whole beyond description
OLYMPUS
Mount Olympus treks out to twilight
leading a coffle of oil fields, microwave towers, antenna farms
countless beings
deserts and forests remain
roads, agriculture, pyramids, temples and churches
commerce, knowledge and culture
tap water and wars
the stuff of civilizations
an amalgam either abysmal or glorious
with benefits realized neither by everyone
nor in equal degree by all
until recently
horses, camels, elephants, slaves and water wheels
were valued for their ability to move people and things
now we have electricity and robots
we will have quantum computers, anti-gravity devices
things yet undiscovered
civilizations are formed by people for the common good
focusing energy
for projects unachievable by individuals
like proud parents taking credit
we might pause to consider --
we don't create our own bodies
and that each person owes much to civilization
but not everything
children live their own lives
have their own children
and civilization owes much to its children
but what are commodities owed?
a problem arises when people are seen as things
to be bought and sold like horses or oxen
reduced to the status of beasts with voices
who by definition are owed nothing
slaves built our canals, highways, cities
plantations for rice, cotton and tobacco
knowing that they are
not horses
though illegal now, slavery persists in habits of thought
in social relationships
a tension that will not dissipate overnight
but one that is a fundamental change
the very idea that a civilization formed by people
will serve people
rather than the other way around
turns history on its head
we are the children of civilization
and now expect freedom and liberation
the lack of which are a fundamental threat
as was illustrated by our civil war
there are other threats
beneath Yosemite lives a mega volcano
the sun, from time to time
emits solar flares that disable power grids
because of an asteroid impact the dinosaurs went extinct
we have climate change
nuclear power plants and weapons
egoism
wars
destruction of the planet in the name of profit
overpopulation
enlightenment for all seems distant
so why not drink, smoke, snort or whatever?
but back to the asteroid:
let's suppose it can be dealt with, which seems likely
a system for detection is partially in place
a system for deflecting asteroids can be built internationally
why wait?
no entrenched interests oppose it
international co-operation is in everyone's best interest
our collective odds for avoiding extinction would be improved
while looking into the sky
we might reflect that in the entire “out there”
no intelligent life forms are yet known
we do have some indication of the rarity of us
my body was not created by me
so acutely aware there is no guarantee it will continue
I appreciate this rare opportunity
in a universe
from which no one is apart
