Sunday, August 23, 2020

CHOICE

Friday
5 a.m.
8.21.2020
~*~


NIGHTBIRDS
(It's always night time somewhere)
by Michelle Slater
-2009-


There must be trillions of us with the same inclination
to wake, wandering through the night
mulling over events, making plans,
thinking, panning for gold
within the special silence of cities
that never truly sleep, only keep on
a different rhythm than the daytime pace

Long lines of refugees
seeking safety this wide world round,
soldiers shouldering their assignments,
whole armies of cleaners cleaning,
watchers watching,
service workers servicing,
doctors and nurses toiling at their tasks
trying to save what is broken,
taxi drivers on regular fourteen hour shifts
shifting aching bones,
 train and bus personnel
taking us where we want to be,
truckers haul all the things we think we need
back and forth
crossing every land route.

Look.
Pilots are soaring above us.
Ships plod through the waters that surround us.
Listen. Can you hear  the electrical hum
as energy transfers
from factories doing twenty-four-seven
just to keep from sinking
 in  tidal floods to economic collapse?
The ice is melting.


Amazing
that some still find the energy for poetry,
 for dance, for art and play.
Astounding
that this has been so for all recorded time;
people caring for one another,
responding to beauty,
loving their lives.

Life just wants to live.
Doesn't it take your breath away?
Doesn't it send shivers right through you? 
Isn't it almost unbearable
to let it all in
to make room for everything,
for everyone.

Remember,
leave space in between,
for what we can not see is so vast
'infinity' is insufficiently descriptive.

Here is where silence is a useful practice,
surrender becomes a skillful means,
and happiness
the habit that might be chosen.
~*~




Shopping
4 p.m.
Hot shot Wheels
Seen on the way to the store
 Pink and Red Woman
Kalustyans
123 Lexington Avenue
Manhattan
"In 1944, K. Kalustyan opened the specialty food store at its present location, carrying Indian spices and groceries. After his demise, the ownership and management has passed on to Maharaba International Inc. The new owners have expanded the inventory to include food and ingredients for cooking from other countries such as Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Egypt, England, French, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Holland, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Philippines, Romania, Spain, South-Africa, South-America, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Vietnam, West Indies, Yugoslavia and many others. Kalustyan’s continues to try to satisfy the palatal needs of the community by continuing to add new products to its already extensive product line. Our customers come from a diverse walk-of-life and profession. Many of the Greater New York City chefs choose to buy from Kalustyan’s for its wide selection of finest and fresh ingredients." I've been shopping here since the eighties
Frozen Spanikoptia, fresh Halva, home made Fallafal, White Musk Oil and I'm a happy woman with delicious bounty and sweet smells on hand.
~*~

Saturday
8.22
2 p.m.
Manhattan Window View
 5 p.m.
Looking East
 Wounded Tree
One of ten our tenant committee planted in the Seventies
 233 East 21 Street
 Marking
 More Marking
Abandoned lot 29th Street
Near Lexington Avenue
Nightshade and another Vine
  7 p.m.
Home Again
(A gift from Wendy Golden)

https://youtu.be/KC2FHciQ0sU
~*~

2 comments:

Mo Crow said...

(((Michelle))) love your Nightbirds poem!

Nancy said...

Michelle, Thank you for the water song, thanks to Wendy too.