FRESH AIR (thin places 3)

My feet are in love with mossy, 

black earth under a canopy of trees,

soft, yet strong enough to feed

the wide Oak, tall Pine, smooth Hollies,

and Hemlock, hold them anchored

inside the sounds of water splashing

over rocks and wind in their leaves.

What was it like when we wandered

through in our loin cloths and thin

shoes, did we pause the hunt, rest

on a log, look around and smile?

Were we more attuned, less uneasy,

or so hungry every rustle of leaf

and limb meant survival. Or not.

We were prey, dodging the

toothy swift, with their fangs and claws

that meant survival... theirs or ours.

Or not. Oh! Then, we were truly alive.

But was it any different, less chancy

than a drive to work in a speeding

three-ton box of metal so we could

buy our food instead of kill it?

The tribal brute in us is tamed,

we've become romantics, and 

can only dream of the noble 

savages we were.

Our mother can be harsh,

but I don’t care, because

everywhere I turn, a bird

doodles the air with flittering

wings and whistling trills.

I want to die here with

a smile and a sigh.

Reviews

[Lorry]

Or you could just go to any soccer match and watch the crowd de-evolve in front of your eyes and drop down the food chain a rung or two.
I do wonder though what the sound made that melted their head when they were met with the advanced tech of the day, like a stick with a pointy rock (spear) or when they were out maneuvered by the new techs removal of pointy rock, which would have then made a club, and so on, until we end up with trump as president, who doesn't even deserve a capital letter in his name.
Remember, some things are enough just the once! 😊

[Vol]

Lorry,
Since you are wondering, those left behind technologically are those who were conquered and assimilated. Some things never change.
And since you mentioned politics, do you know why Marc Antony's speech won over Brutus?
Vol

[Lorry]

No. Why?.....

[Vol]

Because emotion wins over logic. Every time.

[Elisabeth]

Thank you for this, Vol. I felt very much in your images, especially the first stanza. Beautiful work.

[Vol]

Elizabeth,
Isn't it a fine thing to get lost in a poem, any poem? You never know when one will take you to another place you didn't even know was there inside you. Thank you for traveling with me.
Vol

[Ayvid N]

Dear Vol,
We have evolved into something very different from what Nature meant us to be. We were to prey or be prey. Now we feel and act as if we are above it all. Meanwhile, Nature stands all around, watching us guardedly, quietly, perhaps resentfully. It's indeed very exciting to think how the laws of prey and predator may have seeped into the machinations of our civilized world. A very thinking poem. I'm so delighted by the way you take my thoughts into such unexplored places.

[Vol]

Divya,
We all do what must be done... or not. And we are born into the time meant for us. Because we have some little knowledge of history, we can look back and wish we lived in some other time... Times of castles and armies on horseback, or maybe some mud hut in an isolated village... personally it would take a lot for me to give up things like easily available toilet paper, soap, deodorant, and antibiotics... Most importantly, we in today's world seem to have gained great knowledge and abandoned wisdom.
I cope with poetry, Renoir, Monet, Georgia O'Keefe, and a few others... Oh, and by paying little attention to daily newscasts.
Vol

[Ayvid N]

Indeed, and that's why poetry should be prevented from becoming a dying art. I noted the names of the poets you mentioned here and I'll soon be reading them on Kindle.

[Vol]

Ah, a cultural slip! I cope by enjoying art language and painting, sculpture, etc. My favorite poets a re D.H. Lawrence, W.B. Yeats, a particular translation of Michaelangelo, and many others of the Modern Era which lasted from about 2015 till 2045. It is a holiday here, today, so, if you like, I'll send a more complete list later...

[Milana]

I love this piece! Now, don't get me wrong, I respect progress, innovation, and stuff + I love city lights. But I feel sorry that we're forgetting - can't generalize, but apparently will - the truly important things. I'm not talking only about true friendships and a nice cup of coffee (emo+glimmers). But the magnificent ones as well - the greatness of nature; harmony throughout; our origins and potential.. We've more focused on those mundane things that it seems the real beauty worthy of celebration and respect has become so transparent as a shadow of what it used to or can be. Oh, I'm now writing whatnot - there's just so much I'd say. Bravo and thanks for sharing this with us, really thought-provoking (and lovely descriptions, scenes, everything)!

[Vol]

Milana, The Navajo express it as "walking in beauty"
and we carry that with us always, we are just so overwhelmed with sensory overload our vision becomes jagged and uncomfortable. But beauty is all around us.
Vol

[John the Baptist]

Now I know the origin of road rage.

[Vol]

John,
Hahahahaha... We come by it honestly... And now we know why the aliens haven't made contact.
Vol

[John Sullivan]

What a wonderful piece! I'm a city boy myself, so my appreciation of nature came later in life. Maybe civilization has pacified us, but good Lord is it convenient! Great read, thanks for sharing!

[Vol]

John,
I was at my brothers in NC last year . I went for a walk in the forest behind his house, and got thoroughly LOST! Haven't had that much fun in a very long time.
Vol

[John Sullivan]

Ahahaha, nice. My dad used to take us up to New Hampshire camping every year. Once we got lost and ended up in Canada. Upon our return, the customs guy asked us if we had anything to declare. I was like 7 and didn't know what that meant, so I declared "I love America!" at the top of my voice. One of my finest moments. The White Mountains are so beautiful though

[Vol]

Love it... Talk about declarations... we were in a big crowd waiting to be seated at a Cracker Barrel when my son loudly announced "I'm so hungry, I could eat a whole leftover!" Made the wait easier for everyone there...

[John Sullivan]

Ah, that's great! I dig Cracker Barrel, always get the big breakfast with the country fried steak.

[Ken Simm.]

I agree romance is a product of civilisation. But is love? Could it be the saving of humankind along with fire and an opposable thumb?

[Vol]

Ken,
Hahahaha! The last time someone suggested that, He got nailed to a tree..
Vol