Wednesday, June 22, 2022

MUTATIONS

The way, for a 
long time, we choose 
to ignore it, 

to circumvent it 
with our crosses; 

the way we offhand-
reference it 
in every conversation

as if to toss out
to each 
hapless interlocutor

a bite-sized buoy 
on an infinite ocean;

the way, eventually, 
we all finally stop 

and just sit 
before its quiet grandeur

with no need to look
or even speak 
to each other, 

contented 
to simply read 
and write 

and warm our bodies 
by its light—

all of these 
must be mutations 
on the way 

we know of
to praise 
this thing called existence 

as it burns 
in splendid effigy 

to an urgent  
unimportance.