abandoning ship
swim with the gentle undulations
of our stardusted oceans
as they sensitively surrender
drops of dew up
to the contemplative clouds
to convey ancient intricacies
in the dew’s quiet rest, buoyed patiently by petals who also must obey the call of gravity.
my dear mechanical world
(welded so clumsily by ego)
how blindly naive
your race
neglecting truths
engendered by beauty,
insisting instead that
the weight of time
is measured in capital.
you employ
productivity and efficiency
to justify life
proclaiming ignorantly
that sitting still
serves selfishness,
sloth,
and a stupored mind.
performative care
(yielded so by the meaningless movements of leadership’s lips)
impedes the spontaneous circulation
of humble servants
untrained for rebellion.
dystopia… please know
your avid altars to
dead data
(and better done than done well)
will crumble one day
as you mistake the present
for a tool tailored to
secure more power
for a throned few
supported by slaves
who bend their knees in
praise for the status quo
(fearing embodiment as an unforgivable sin for which confession is never enough).
the Divine has and will always
sing out in joyful objection
through Everything that is Green,
Everything that is Yes!
theories born from greed and lust
cannot dam the
delightful babbles of old brooks
springing in song across
the intentionally silly roots
of aging trees, who never fight their sisters to the skies.
like lace,
creeks too collect along
the scenic route
massaging stone
into pebbles
weaving in unison
a contentedly inefficient path
until waterfalls
evaporate with reciprocity
towards the heavens.
such intellectual endeavors
renew experienced redwoods
who speak slowly
in their sturdy strength
like old friends
their roots expressing
chemistry that cascades
in a rather cerebral manner
across soil
to defy false assertions of
your adored individuality
(which fails to transcend survival towards an unbound existence).
in truth
the full potential
of one human remains
inextricable from
the Double Helix
of humanity.
immortal nature
has forever
patiently invited you
to join the dilly-dally of dance
across time and space
where mothers delicately expand multiverses…
Divinity never
came from competition.
it flowered
from playful Solidarity
every vibrating string
whether invitro or invivo
humming in harmony
with its neighbor
an eternal orchestra that asks for nothing but your time.
and thus
while listening
in deep reflection
to these immense echoes
my anger melts
back into grief
(compelling me to jump overboard, so that I too may joyfully join the oceans of my origin).
Haleh Van Vliet is an emergency physician.
