“But why o’ Death begin a Tale?
Just now we’re living
sound an’ hale.
Then top and maintop
crowd the sail.
Heave care o’erside!”
“To J. S. ” by Robert Burns
It’s such a sunny day
the house sparrow is flying some wisps
to a drainage pipe
the sunning turtle lurches
onto a log with its shiny shell
the magnolias are in a pink riot
so why are so many sick
so many dead
so why are people still congregating
on the Radnor Rail Trail
the SEPTA train to Philly runs empty
Gryphon coffee shop is dark
Tredyffrin library is closed
yellow tapes block tennis courts
yellow tapes on basketball courts
The NYSE traders are jumping out
of a plane without a parachute
When will I get it?
When will it become visible in me?
Practice to relieve tension: Six Healing Sounds
Separate heaven and earth:
Left hand rises
turns over
and holds up heaven
right palm pushes down
presses the earth
Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
is my sound of the day
improving my spleen
relieving my worries