earth note 548

when the soil becomes restless

as it does without warning
it pulls all warmth
out of each of us
digests the nurturing
and toxins alike
waits for an answer
in moonlight
chases the magic
of song
until it becomes
many visions
for the hedonist
to the martyr
from the sophist
to the mechanic

the trees stand limp today

this is a statement
not a fear
it's prudent to let the body
find its own solitude
drink its share
find its own grace

--- e b bortz

on the anniversary of casablanca

there's a centrifugal storm
of dead and near-dead leaves
on the avenue
even showing up
in the shadows
where outlines blur
sometimes indeterminate
by whispers and intuition
like a fog
or a kiss 
from an old movie

--- e b bortz

earth note 547

eye to eye

wild flowers
find wings

--- e b bortz

every border that rises

is built on a lie
the river gives us water
     forgiveness
not a bureaucratic line of demarcation
when was the last time
the first humans
scrawling figures on rock walls
identified
named
owned
the land and oceans
around them

what's so civil

about property
slavery
indoctrination
nations

can ritual

and dogma
be separate

the sun will make us grow

or it will starve us

--- e b bortz

earth note 546

if this was a garden

in korea
it might unleash
a lush potpourri
given half a chance

--- e b bortz

earth note 545

4pm crows

speak loud
nimble
anxious
like they were getting ready
to flood out of a factory gate
on their way
to a boilermaker

there's usually at least one

that takes the highest perch
barks out directions
reminds everyone
that participation
is appreciated

--- e b bortz

earth note 544

seoul, 1990

highways rumbled

with weekend escapees
college entry exams for the year
were over
families happy or resigned
to the outcomes

teachers had given it

their
all
and everywhere
along the han river
kites found the wind
heard the call
like a resurrection

--- e b bortz

earth note 543

photo by Sandra L Hazley

 

a simple offering

no human can imitate or buy

our veins run pale

 

--- e b bortz

the drone is a bird or the bird is a drone

every surveillance camera on the avenue
will have an opinion
falling leaves disregard everything
take their own flight path
where there's gold    
there's red & brown
authenticity won't be recorded
it's all a sham
dreamed up by a pencil pusher
at the pentagon
pissed off for getting canned
by way of automation

soon the trees will be stripped bare

darkness will come suddenly
there'll be nowhere to hide
fix your camera for permanent video
the sirens are coming through
in hot pursuit
if you happen to be bicycling
be sure & use your flashers

--- e b bortz

earth note 542

 

a short walk

like out the back door

 

rain reviews

every hue

 

voting is underway

 

--- e b bortz

 

earth note 541

big torch key

will always leave

a hole and a heartbreak
like a hurricane

yet the mangroves

create roots of life
buoyant and marking time

--- e b bortz

ad men and ad women

ain't gonna run my world
or advertise their way out of it
with or without superbowl fireworks
sitcom twitter trash & branding
self-righteous anything
a strange bed of mega-million
foundations & self-delusion     
no-think-tank
with or without concussions
with any self-respect
would ever carry water
from these poisoned feed lots
of a billion
imprisoned
steers & heifers

--- e b bortz

earth note 540

raindrops make perfect circles
on a flat roof
even as they melt away
leaving a morning chill
there's fog
that reaches just beyond
your hand
to a maple
     bright yellow

--- e b bortz