“Here in Amerikua”*

I know what The Man says.

Rush-rush.

Elbow your way in.

Pursue glory.

Close the deal.

Accelerate!

Make your mark!

The Hungry Ghost World

is filled with two-leggeds

spinning the fierce wheel of striving.

May they come to know

an actual day of rest.

There’s another world alongside that one —

parallel, luminous,

soft, quiet.

Just beyond the window,

the forest’s golden-brown blanket

offers a teaching.

The Awareness-Teacher named Sentient Earth says:

“Don’t lose heart. I’ve got you.

This decaying you’re seeing all around you

is preparing the soil for Future Blooming Earth.

Don’t strain. Flow. Winter is a form of Dreaming."

*Amerikua is a Mayan word meaning “Land of the Four Winds”

from an evolving, yet-to-be-published collection / © 2023 / Frank Inzan Owen

SOUND MAP FOR POEM

Music of the Smoky Rainbow / Roy Mattson