When your heart is on fire smoke gets in your eyes
Death rolls in, a thousand acres, flaming,
thick smoke drifting south.
We are blinded by the slow burn of a million lies.
Nothing trickles down.
The poor belong among us.
And we are among ourselves on a finite planet
on an infinite journey with a wee small chance
of getting it right.
Love is right. Violence is not.
The greater good is an apple tree the voles left alone
because we pulled the mulch away from the trunk.
Sometimes, winter should not be diminished.
What comes to everyone over time
are thirteen birds, four horsemen,
and an appetite for sweets and salt.
The indulgences and the seven deadly sins
are always calling. Try not to answer.
Stare down, instead
and watch where you place each foot.
Wish each other well.
We are stardust and ashes,
and we neither live nor die
without fire.
Short visits with an honest God 
Oh Rita, what can I possibly say. You know how I absolutely love your poetry. Each one, it seems, I love more than the last.
We are blinded by the slow burn of a million lies. POETRY. So much in 11 words.
We are among ourselves–I can’t say why this feels like it is a spiral. I love the feel of this phrase.
With a small chance of getting it right. The simplicity of the line holds all the risk. It’s gorgeous. Then the use of right again in the following line, as it forces us to wonder: why does loving have such a small chance when it comes to us humans. The rule is so simple.
The metaphor of the apple tree and the voles is superb. It holds so much–a little bit of noticing, a little bit of attention, a tiny bit of work and all is well.
I love the juxtaposition of calling and answering. The use of the word “answering” makes me go
back and read “calling” differently–and more immediately, less metaphorically.
The last two lines “we neither live nor die without fire” are so bald and true, particularly as they are followed by a simple instruction: wish each other well.
The whole simple truth of it is contained in this poem and forces me to wonder why, then, is it so hard?
You are so brilliant. Really. I wish I could find something else to say. That you can come up with something so true and lyrical and arresting in one week makes me writhe in envy (in a good way).
THANK YOU, as always, for your doggedness each week and for your friendship,
sj
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are the grand champion purple ribbon commentator and I love you for it, especially given how darn gifted you are. xoxoxox
LikeLike
wish each other well….yes and yes and yes to all these tender words. and holy hell what fire we are living and dying in….blessings and much love to you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And much love back to you, fellow marcher to the unknown horizons ahead. xoxoxox
LikeLike