For all the Tigers of Japan

 

For all the Tigers of Japan

 

I.  

 

They say the summer coils around

to face its tail and eat the spring

that baby wrens refuse their worms, and then refuse to sing

the desert sand advances its collapsing appetite

while we, in sync with our devices

idly click and then alight.

 

The bees perform the waggle dance, then take it on the lam

from birthing persons on parade, pushing planks in wooden prams

conjurers with megaphones, calling words into existence

magic words that must be uttered with a magical insistence.

 

II. 

 

Mustachioed with cape and leer

Nature thrusts Herself upon us

pins us to the railroad ties

(not at all what we were promised)

 

Fire ants engulf their prey

poison sting, no indecision

they make a point of staying true

to the fire ant that they envision

Nature, fleeing in a stolen car

She's got a jump but won't get far

Nature in a hobo hat

'Brother, can you spare a dime?'

'Sorry sister, I want it all

and I'm running out of time.'

Tranquilizer dart in neck

Nature laid out on a rug

Daphne turned herself to wood

to save her grave from being dug.

 

III. 

 

Precious-moments-vase-antiques

preening Great Blue Heron beaks

amputated, broken off

chunks of nature auctioned off

the final sale of the estate.

 

With the lightness of our being we discreetly lift a hand

to tug our ear and place a bid 

for all the tigers of Japan.