Jeremy Seligson writes

M

U

L

B

E

R

R

Y

Years

with salvation

outside

our window

we couldn’t

know

when all

to do

was listen

to the

cicadas

the

oriole

the

frog

all to do

was watch

the butterflies

the praying mantis

stalking from

a flower

the golden wasp

chasing

a spider

~ its web

catching a fly

We couldn’t see

~ really eye

clouds

of shapes

and colors

couldn’t hear

~ actually ear

the thunder

of angelic

voices

~ couldn’t feel

the breeze

taste

the mint

or touch

our child

gasping

for breath

All we’d do

was labor

chase dreams

and race

from here

to there

or fight

for what?

while dragonflies

patrolled

our

garden

Tonight,

we sit

under

the mulberry ~

cat’s on lap,

purring

~ crickets

go rattling

bottle~caps

in cans

~ “Hey,

it’s Jazz!!!”

We stay up

and listen

to the

rhapsody

~ every

high note

and low

every fast

and slow

stirring

our brains

and churning

our hearts

until we’ve got

the message

 

 The Mulberry Tree in Autumn -- Vincent Van Gogh