tanka
my ancestors fell
asleep, on chilly autumn
nights, overwhelmed by
countless stars. i count them on
my fingers, between streetlights.
my ancestors fell
asleep, on chilly autumn
nights, overwhelmed by
countless stars. i count them on
my fingers, between streetlights.
many who think they’re improvising
are following a script written in stone
many who think they’re reading the score
are making it up as they go along
if you think you know what you’re doing
think again, and play along
if you think you don’t know what you’re doing
think again, and play along
to look, unflinchingly, into the eyes
that everyone agrees look back with hatred,
and see the human heart that animates them,
and meet it with your own
if you haven’t held
a wrong view, i don’t trust you.
but let’s hug, and talk.
“they gave their lives” is
a phrase we shouldn’t forget.
how will you give yours?