vi - Lee Perron

[Larry Robinson]

vi

At the council of animals
our people are on trial
we are inconvenienced, angry—
they struggle pathetically with disease

the long list of extinct species is noted

an envoy from the ants arrives
and speaks of the time we,
or one of us, chose in drowsy
compassion to save an ant’s life

our case is referred to the plants

trees are emotion itself—so fully open
to the elements that they do not move, save
in the wind—always sumptuous, always
digging for more strength, more knowledge

yet they pause to ask us
Do you know were you come from?

What you walk on? Whither you go?

	- Lee Perron