like leaves

the car engine gasps and

screams in panic when the

wheels let go of the familiar

asphalt, and float high above

the morning traffic on 74.

the road is but a black ribbon

dropped by some mighty hand,

a long, narrow scar, a scab

on the body of the earth.

 

like ants, the cars below

follow on one another’s scent

in an endless line

to and from the city hive.

who were we before we

became flickering pixels

on a high definition screen

chasing undefined dreams,

standing in line staring

at nothing, going to work

or to war noticing nothing,

waving flags, falling into

lonely graves like blind fools

while shadowy figures

make bets laughing, leering

at our bloody brawl?

 

something holds us all up

and for a time we soar

singing our brief song

before we fall

like leaves onto a silent

forest floor where nocturnal

creatures scurry in the night

ignorant and fearful

of the light.

 

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

We are all ants in the bigger picture. I picked up on an aerial view of human behaviour. I really liked the description of black ribbon road. Yes we are a black ribbon. We are a blot on the landscape at times. We have the ability to shine, to find the light, but somehow we end up fumbling around in the dark. The blind leading the blind. Thank you fir sharing Laz. Have a good Tuesday.

Chris

[Laz K.]

Thank you for reading, and also for your insightful comments. :)

[Chris Shaw]

You are welcome :)

[Red Brick Keshner]

Like leaves, like ants, to the hive off the tree, an ancient pedigree. Ignorance breeds fear of the light. Thanks for sharing this stunning poem, Laz! /Frederick.

[John the Baptist]

This one has an existentialist sound to it. The speaker describes a meaningless existence characterized by rote repetition of deadening routines and the periodic eruptions of wars and politics. This seems to be real for a time, but then we fall into the darkness. Not your basic upper, this one, though the wording and the pacing are excellent. Were he still with us, M. Sartre would probably love this offering.

[Patricia]

Oh I like this a lot, a great view of our nature and end of it. Such a mess we make before then. I believe no where near enough of us self reflect ourselves let alone the whole of our world and our place in it, great ending

[Laz K.]

Thanks for reading and for commenting.