Echoes Main

Is this world truly fallen? They say no.
For there's the new moon, there's the Milky Way,
There's the rattler with a wren's egg in its mouth.
And there's the panting rabbit they will eat.
They sing their wild hymn on the dark slope,
Reading the stars like notes of hilarious music.
Is this a fallen world? How could it be?
And yet we're crying over the stars again,
And over the uncertainty of death,
Which we suspect will divide us all forever.
I'm tired of those who broadcast their certainties,
Constantly on their cell phones to their redeemer.
Is this a fallen world? For them it is.
But there's that starlit burst of animal laughter.
The day has sent its fires scattering.
The night has risen from its burning bed.
Our tears are proof that love is meant for life
And for the living. And this chorus of praise,
Which the pet dogs of the neighborhood are answering
Nostalgically, invites our answer, too.
Is this a fallen world? How could it be?

Bow Wow
(Inspired by Mark Jarman's Coyotes)

Is this world truly fallen? The dogs say no.
For there's the bright red rubber chew toys,
And the delectable variety of biscuits
The dogs have the good life.
Humans as their servants
Always cleaning, scooping, washing,
The animals oblivious to our hard work
But they do reward us:
With their loyalty

Related to the wolves and coyotes
Just waiting for that right moment to pounce
And chase after its prey
With mean, glittering eyes.

The wave breaks
And I'm carried into it.
This is hell, I know,
Yet my father laughs,
Chest-deep, proving I'm wrong.
We're safely rooted
Rocked on his toes.

Nothing irked him more
Than asking, "What is there
Beyond death?"
His theory was
That love greets you
And the loveless
Don't know what to say.

Description of Heaven
(Inspired by Mark Jarman's Descriptions of Heaven and Hell)

The leafy green trees
And the sun baked golden sand
The emerald green grass
And the turquoise blue waters

This is paradise.
Where there are no problems,
No Violence-
And we all love each other.

The baby blue skies
With white, cotton clouds
Puffy like smoke
Yet as delicate as a fawn.

The waves frothing to and fro
The sun beating down on your neck
Yep.
This is paradise, my friend.