Weaving a New Pattern
By: Don Hynes
water and air temperature equal
at half the human Fahrenheit
pushing back the effort
to lessen the long grip of winter;
Junuary we call it above the 45th
with wool and fleece still in force.
Somewhere in the deep cavern
carved by the Mississippi
bedrock is fissured, fractured
by the forces of pre history
and the latest Gulf war
signaling a step in evolution
or the end to a failed experiment.
I put my hands upon the Earth yesterday
with saw and shear saying yes or no
thinning madronna that thrives on this rock
fighting back thorns and strangling vines
building rock surrounds for seedling trees
against the threat of my own predation
using rake and cart to comb and brush
the energy of desire down through the tools
untangling and weaving a new pattern
speaking to Her in the simplest terms
letting Her know if I go or will stay.