We look for shade
from the sun. Large leafy
trees, banyans, whatever
lasts longest, whatever ever renews.
She sought the sun and
found it, invited it to dance
and some days you could
see it flutter and dim beneath
her feet. Other days
it burnt and blistered her, it
burnt us all and there was
no shade. No shade.
The sun is confused today. Can’t
find its orbit, can’t find the earth, can’t
find its fiercest dance partner.
It wobbles uncertain. It shines bleachy.
Listen
We will carry
the flag of course.
Of course we will
carry the flag, but
she would seek out the sun
and fight it. And I don’t know—
I don’t know if any of us
know that dance.
First published in The Daily Times on February 13, 2018.
