L Lois
Heavens Have Mercy
I came to the beach
to catch the sun
going down
over the horizon
and I found an empty
bench looking west
by the jetty
where the rocks hold us up
and the man on the next
bench north
is loudly defending his right
to manage his job
on a call that seems longer
than the lingering of the sun,
while in front of me
a bicycle sits perched
the sunset extends through
spokes and frame, jarring in
juxtaposition with nature's glory
and he shouts "To be honest, man!"
the tourists come and take
family pictures while their
two year old climbs the bench
beside me with a wide grin and bright eyes
grandparents sit on the two rocks
closest, facing to stare
at me directly, unflinchingly
while they miss the moments behind
and I wonder what it will take
to break through the stoniness
of our city that thinks our holy
places are ignorant ground
"are you there? are you there?
my phone died..."
and we collectively breathe
the night into its peace at last
