Spinning high velocity~
chunk of planet thrown off
into chaos of creation.
Circling, circling~
ball of bubbling gases,
rotating 'round and 'round
to see it from all angles
as it cools and forms;
becoming blue marble
floating in black velvet;
a jewel on display
for your eyes only.
Scorched by day,
white hot sunlight;
but
cradled, comforted
by wash of your silver light;
you cool fevered brow.
Eons of crashing continents,
thrashing oceans,
you keep an eye upon it
until miniscule creature slides
out of watery depths,
takes breath,
slithers onto shore;
encounters, assimilates tree,
stretches supple skin until
tiny wings birth;
webbed feet reach until
delicate claws curl gracefully.
Climbs to reach you,
closer to illumination.
Wings expand, flex;
creature takes flight,
soaring uncharted atmospheres,
perhaps hopes of touching you.
Watch lovingly, encourage~
brighten darkest night,
then
hide yourself away,
protect growing number of admirers
from hunters.
In the fullness of your smile,
two legs become four,
small graduates to large,
few multiply to many.
Eyes begin,
hold intelligence, curiosity.
Gaze indulgently upon
playful groups learning
co-operation, foraging,
protection, hunting.
Millimeter by millimeter,
curved spines straighten,
dangling arms shorten,
thick, knobbed fingers
flex and reach
for rasping, shaled rock
to strike;
creating, producing first spark
to rival your light,
help you brighten cold, starlit skies.
Upright family groups
seek shelter from
thun'drous rain,
swirling snow,
raging heat;
watch them skin catch,
struggle into fur,
cover bodies become
hairless and unprotected.
Seeds,
carriers of nourishment,
planted, tended,
harvested, cooked.
In day, while you are hidden,
new discoveries made~
tools, wheels,
language, weapons.
Narrow environmental circle expands,
brings expansion of knowledge,
knowledge shared by writing,
words read by those to follow.
Time, events recorded for posterity;
experiments proliferate,
discoveries happen swiftly
in multitudinous locations~
you have barely time to mark them
in short span of nightly reign.
Observe construction~
soaring cathedral towers,
pointed castle turrets;
hear composition~
trilling melodies,
haunting symphonies,
eternal rhapsodies;
marvel creation masterpieces~
chapel ceilings,
marble sculptures,
dreaming landscapes,
jeweled glories.
Gaze in amusement and some surprise
into lens of eye
pointed to observe you.
Wonder and quail
at oceans breached by
small, unsteady boats
wandering, drifting, lost and alone,
at times only your smile to
shine in companionship.
Celebrate prows cleaving sand,
feet upon virgin soil,
new lands discovered,
claimed,
fought over.
Weep for brothers
displaced, dispirited,
destroyed.
Cheer for hard-won independence,
upheavals, changes;
marvel at explosions of
sparkling fireworks
lighting your face.
Land cleared, filled with people,
mountains crossed, oceans met,
boundaries drawn.
Creatures in flight without wings,
soaring, stretching,
bridging coasts,
conquering oceans.
Cities rising closer to meet you;
powers, strengths, dominations,
clashing,
subsiding,
clashing~
destroying,
uniting,
destroying.
Weapons armed, races begun,
. . . itchy trigger fingers
poised . . .
speed, mankind rushing headlong
to achieve
until, one day, you open your eyes
to discover him circling your head,
scarring your face,
making his mark
upon you.
Shake your head sadly at
filth-laden skies,
sludge-clogged rivers,
overburdened lands~
all green freshness sucked out;
wise, ancient forests who've
received your glow
for centuries,
ripped from the earth;
creatures, friends,
vanished forever.
Watch knowingly the new millennium
and nod.
You will still be shining upon an
empty Earth,
comforting, healing wounds,
renewing~
until miniscule creature
slides out of watery depths,
takes breath . . .
