truth is the sun rose
this morning, splattering of light
low and cold – birds on high branches
moving and feeding to stay warm alive
shaking water from the trees
while cold feet
in thick socks and gumboots
wade the night rain become mud.
i know that inside a warm fire waits
and tea
always tea.
truth is, arm down a burrow
in soft wrapped fur,
i find five new born rabbit kits
naked and blind
yipping at the cold of my touch.
they know as much of tomorrow as i
which to be honest
is nothing at all
truth is the world is so much bigger
than we can remember all at once
without losing the parts of ourselves
that re-member here.
and of course we wanted flight
so we have and had it
and wanted and wanted
and now we ache and we break
with all that we are losing
rage with the fires
that burn and melt,
but we are of no use to this world
scorched by our impotent rage,
more broken than that we hope to mend,
more lost than that we stand to lose.
truth is my youngest daughter has covid,
and probably myself and oldest daughter too –
six days in and perhaps too soon
to write we are fine we are fine,
(though really we are)
because we know no more
than those rabbits down the burrow
naked and blind vulnerable
while blissfully asleep.
truth is yesterday new moon
we planted first seeds of the season
all three of us outside
under a fast changing sky –
black soil, small pots
and names like prayers
on stick labels
tomato and marrow,
cornflower and bean.
truth is the sun that rose
after rain that fell through the night
and watered the seeds that
were planted
were planted
were planted
For Brendan at earthweal’s weekly challenge: TRUTH IN A WORLD ON FIRE
https://earthweal.com/2021/08/09/earthweal-weekly-challenge-truth-in-a-world-on-fire/
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