FOG THORNS©
HAT TRICK
in this vast ocean of humanity
a grain of rice knows equality
and speaks
conscious of itself without limitation
laughter resounds
thundering applause
for an audience without ears
for those without eyes
a bee onstage
dances the direction
the way is clear for those who know how to search
from his window the Pope blesses
a small green scum pond
on which a lotus blossom floats
for those who have tasted the water
three coins are a distraction
divine coins land
unbelievably
on edge
a great cheer ruffles the surface
yes, it can be done!
followers form lines, set up folding chairs
one must be very careful
Maestro says
the logic is clear
just do this and
presto
yes, it appears!
everywhere coins are standing on edge
Maestro is given a special chair
a new hat
soon the fountain is deserted
climate change:
the pond goes dry
coins stand on edge as before
but now the new thirst . . .
someone grabs Maestro's hat
three witches roil the sky
crows bring a desperate message
suffering through clouds
programmers ride their laptops
the end is way far
beyond analog antiquities
they code
a new hat?
what do crows know?
PARTICLES
somewhat beyond the indoctrination of the mirror
in which wrinkles are inscribed
lies not a second youth
but one undiminished
not a matter of preserving foolishness
but the perseverance which outlasts fools
these plain words speak of cherry blossoms
the death of mountains
stars which make the pyramids of Egypt
dust
I speak not for the ages
it is rather the other way round
I speak for you
who read these tea leaves floating
in a minor cup
on an infinite sea
bring on gala advertisements
anthems of well meaning religions
population displacements
climate Armageddon
political purges
castles in gated communities
it is all the same
youth knows no particular frame
and in particular
owes no one
WILDINGS
BEFORE WHEELS AND COGS
hearts were beating
a rhythmic dance borrowed from the sun
even this accidental page
which
who knows how it got here
I release to fly on its own
crows are perhaps the first machinists
making tools to make other tools
crows watch humans, remembering friends
they fly on their own
do they ignore what they have learned
to learn what they are
as humans must?
perhaps it does not matter
accidents are precursors to great discoveries
perhaps the greatest:
what persists is not accidental
PLANE FACTS
mow this lawn
OK –anything else?
no, just mow
tomorrow the President gives a speech here
suppose the speech is cancelled, uh --
climate change you know
it won't make any difference, will it
mowing high or mowing low?
speech or no speech
just mow
all these questions
but the job is just the same isn't it?
just the same
how comforting
I hang my sign:
DO NOT DISTURB
FINGERS VERSUS TOES
pine trees growing in the dayroom
I'm just the recorder here
but privately, I must say, it's a happy sign
the usual assignments are somewhat ponderous
end of the world
great awakenings
I take 'em as they come
one and all
and though my raven quoth a bit longer
somehow think of Edgar Allen Poe
ravens are beyond good and evil
as are pine trees, frogs and the bay bridge
which brings a chuckle
ships hit it and what does it say?
PING!
transliterate glittering ships at night
(a favorite theme on Channel 5 weather news)
and it becomes a place for picnics
a dayroom
PONG!
my editor breathes a sigh of relief
the opening notes make a chord
well why not?
civilization has its faults
and so does the earth beneath the bridge
cars and jet transports haul by
on momentous missions
at Christmas bell ringers stake out streets
the noise is a song in several keys
of course I am the editor
so you can imagine
good and evil
fingernails versus toenails
and frogs croaking in the night
