Tag Archives: adaptation

NO SECRET

 

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The ant, his sting—
the scorpion, his horn—
the lowly on this earth
rise up, adapt.

The cactus spine,
the thistle’s quill
survive the brilliance
that has blinded us.

The coyote knows
we have never been
that exceptional,
except as providers—

making his living
knowing how we think,
then waits
to clean-up behind us.

All our wealth and power,
instant ease and comforts
feed him, yet we are starved
for something more secure

than convenient hearts
carved to hang bejeweled
around our necks
on heavy chains.

It is no secret,
we have lost
our humility,
that sense of awe

that boils us down
to nothing
of any real
significance.

                               for JEG

RAILROAD TOWNS

 

A fluttering of other lives
busy nesting out of reach—
dry thatches stashed on beams

under eaves like apartments
with squabbling, feathers floating,
on and on—as we lumber

beneath them, intertwined.
Crows claim the tops
of power poles on 65

through rolling hills of oats,
stacks of sticks close to roadkill—
adapting quickly to our urgencies,

to these forgotten outposts
of railroad towns
growing closer together.