so many thoughts
and glimpses
sparkle
in the ancient sands
of Joshua Trees
and Jacob’s Ladders

to Quail Mountain
once again
sign the notebook
and beat on my chest
like the caveman
in my genetic code

I catch movement
the rock becomes alive
with hissing black vipers
so I approach from
the other side
and sign into
the hallucination…zzz

I recall being lost
so lost in these hills
forgotten reminded
the terrifying labyrinth
yet I walked out
vowing revenge

But what really matters?
Your forests are my trees
and my lakes your seas
letting the media
massage and rekindle
forgotten wounds

We walk like zombies
drugged and beaten
by the locals
and let our fears
keep us bottled
in our illusions

will robots look back
on humans
like we do apes
or will we be revered
as their divine creator?
they’ve evolved from us
so it seems arrogant
to think 'Not being
biological...doesn’t mean
they’re not alive
and awake'...zzz

recalling the feel
of burning in the day
of shivering beneath
the evening stars
and the pitch of the shaman’s
warning songs and chants
swirling around the fire
Will our signal rise
above the noise?
...
written on Covid

Pella, Iowa '23