brother (the daisies are everlasting)

^{The sea was calm, your heart would have responded
Gaily, when invited}

~

news today

the cicadas
have started
their singing

the forest
is coming alive

it is a day
after
unexpected rain

glory
under the sun

la niña
has held back
summer
for awhile

but they say
she might be
leaving

so
the cicadas
sing

~

funeral homes
are issuing warnings

their staff
are becoming ill

taking time
away
to get better

be sure
that they need
to get better

meanwhile
the undertakers tell us

the rate
at which people
are dying
does not seem
to slow

and they’re running
out
of spaces
for the dead

in their splendid
isolation

where
can all the bodies
go

~

the questions
undertakers
are asking
of each other:

brother
do you have
a room

brother
do you have
your staff
with you
on the job

brother . . .

brother
can you hold
my body

can you
help me
out

brother . . .

~

in the forest
the flowers
are coming up

yellow –
deep heart
orange –
daisies

everlasting
daisies

la niña
or no

it is the time
of everlasting
daisies

~

News item link