Canada

a northern land
til then unknown
a close escape
from distant war

a plan discussed
should all else fail
a painful choice
to leave our home

a promise voiced
to share the risk
though in the end
no journey made

and now I know
good fortune held
but wonder what
was lost instead

Prayer

a cry for help
when all is lost
a soothing choice
when fears arise

a promise made
for favors sought
a verbal gift
for those in pain

a note of thanks
for life's rewards
a calm request
by those in need

a pious act
for all to hear
a common gift
from public men

a dart of hope
when all else fails
a leap of faith
in gods unseen

Cicadas

as summer's heat
invades the land
they stir from years
beneath the soil

and in the light
they shed their skin
before a brief
and frenzied life

their rising calls
soon fill the air
oppressive heat
their steady fuel

to reproduce
their only goal
before the sun
begins to fade

and by the fall
their parents dead
the nymphs begin
their long retreat

The Wall

in days of youth
I loved the wall
that rose along
our modest home

protecting us
from nature's wrath
a calm retreat
from wind and sun

and as I grew
it led away
a rigid guide
along my path

but there I found
that cracks had formed
transmitting light
between the stones

and down the road
large holes appeared
providing views
til then unseen

and farther still
the structure failed
its crumbled mass
now met the earth

and there I crossed
to brighter lands
and left my fear
within the dust

Earth Day

a splendid day
for mother earth
a clear blue sky
no chance of rain

the crowds arrive
to tour the booths
suburbans parked
a block away

organic foods
for all to taste
and clever gifts
from nature made

and best of all
that stuff for free
from bags to trees
to bumper signs

for vendors time
to show their wares
for all a chance
to show their green

the day moves on
and some must leave
to kill their weeds
and spray for bugs