Open new trails
out of the frail turbulence
of daily concerns. Dehiscent
morning, afternoon and night,
midnight to dawn.
In the meantime, in between
do one thing well. Or more
if you're a heron or bear.
I have yelled at Zach and others
in my devotion to perfection
and for what? His quiet,
dignified withdrawal
was corrective enough. His parent
learns slowly to go slowly
through life. And take
a minute to be gentle.
The term gentleman, perhaps effete
in some quarters is actually powerful
forgoing and forswearing
violence that could have been employed.
Choosing to hold
in reserve, for rare
encounters between equals
upper body strength and inner anger.
To see clearly
in the microscopic universe
love and patience. Withholding
judgement, certain retribution, maintaining
a calm acceptance of almost anything
that does not threaten life itself. And what of
war, the northwest, inexorable
demise. Let them wait on the sweet child.
Copyright 2007 by Robert Ronnow.