A Skeptic’s Faith in Four Parts
I
Sunrise steals my stars again.
I trust that sunset will return them.
II
The sun will rise tomorrow
over whatever is left
of Earth's trajectory
whether I am part of it or not.
III
The universe will fuck you over in the end.
That's what it does, what it's good at—
the immutably mutable flux of being.
Before your time is up, though,
it will show you wonders no one else
can see from exactly your angle of sight.
IV
We can think of nothing
except in terms of ourselves—
our little units of distance and time,
our notions of up and down,
left side and right side.
So small, our languages.
Nonetheless they navigate the stars
even as they trap us here and now.
Sunrise steals my stars again.
I trust that sunset will return them.
II
The sun will rise tomorrow
over whatever is left
of Earth's trajectory
whether I am part of it or not.
III
The universe will fuck you over in the end.
That's what it does, what it's good at—
the immutably mutable flux of being.
Before your time is up, though,
it will show you wonders no one else
can see from exactly your angle of sight.
IV
We can think of nothing
except in terms of ourselves—
our little units of distance and time,
our notions of up and down,
left side and right side.
So small, our languages.
Nonetheless they navigate the stars
even as they trap us here and now.
I like "immutably mutable flux of being" and the last 3 lines.
Love it. Not sure if it's a prophecy or sage advice handed down. *
All four are stunning but III won me over.*
Section IV takes off the top of my head. "So small, our languages." Yes indeed. Great piece, Gary.
It's hard going writing a poem of ideas and you do it so well, Gary. *
I'm with Sam...really loved IV and So small out languages...
"So small, our languages."
And that last line....love it, Gary.
Small language, maybe, but it brings power here. *
Thank you all sincerely for reading and commenting.
Yes, very immutably mutable in thot & execution, Gary. "So small, our languages," but a large impact in your piece.
Thank you, Ed.
A real pearl. Love the contrast of narrow perspective vs. Universal. Love this: Before your time is up, though,
it will show you wonders no one else
can see from exactly your angle of sight.
"*"
Thank you, Kyle.
*, Gary. At it again, writing great verse. I love this truth"
"II
The sun will rise tomorrow
over whatever is left
of Earth's trajectory
whether I am part of it or not."
Thank you, David.