AD.

Seasons slide side by side
first rain, then snow, then nine below
raising want of warmth, hearth and home
the cat on your lap, the television’s drone
the dribbles and drabs of civilized paths
counting costs of culture
abacus upended, values extended
the weather without whethered within

In the house of the North Americans
the weather remains the comfortable same
while outside
humans lay on their blankets
over the sidewalk grates
hunting some warmth from the waste
and a few table crumbs to taste
before the gong bongs gone

What a luxury!
this clean pillowcase
pillow, lavender and bleach
so many gifts in the drift
of then through now
to hold in future

We’re the lucky ones
born in the U.S. of A.
white, not targeted
to be shot on sight
allowed to drive alive maybe even survive
the safety of our sameness
the smallness of our brain

In moments of madness
there’s lavender and lilac
women of sorrow laughing at the well
while the sun does a dance with bright green leaves
and the butterfly sleeps on Buson’s temple bell

– Wendy Shaffer & Smith collab #4

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