for earth

i admit we came from water
and this planet looks blue from space
yet all wars are fought for you
we stand on you,get buried in you
as ashes or bones
we plant in you
seeds for future harvests
Everything depends upon you-
your seasons of fallow and rich
your rocks (some of which we value
We are afraid when you split(in earthquakes
Flags fly on you(but they change
You are the only place we can live
You give us life ,so in gratitude
we chop your trees and cut your bush
and make you squared and rectangulared
From those trees,we make paper titles
to claim you over time -lease,own,buy
it will all change.We have only four score years and ten
You were here before us
and you remain


EARTH,TOO
if there were another earth
a shadow earth(some Doppleganger
on which we could rely when this one peters out
when all the land is used,and we have poisoned crops
Moon too far-too old,cold,bone,crone
Same with Mars,and Jupiter.No matter how far
our cameras explore,we find no more earth than this
Unique.Precious.Honored,revered by those who work in soil
and whose very lives are linked to land.
When it floods,they drown
When drought,they dry up.
We are as this land is-attuned to seasons
The myth of green becomes crack bone deserts
Love has gone.We are alone here.Earth never needed us
as much as we need earth-to eat with,live on,die within
as ashes or as bones,our only home is here.


FOR BOB MUD
my friend works with mud-water and earth
primal paints are made this way (sans chemicals
from Yang-Tse to Barton Springs,he sings art
daubed arms,murals,circles on stone and wood
old as earth itself,open to all ages,he learns more
by listening than speaking,adds to wisdom
by building instant creations.Temporary as time.
Floods may come and wash all else away
Mud remains.Bob Mud stays