* 28 musical artists whose song titles and/or lyrics featured in this poem
~
Counting Crows
Queen
The Moody Blues
Muddy Waters
Bill Monroe
Merle Haggard
Billie Holiday
Faith Hill
Idina Menzel
Billie Eilish
Lindsey Sterling
Sting
Metallica
Moby
Ariana Grande
Joni Mitchell
Paul McCartney
John Lennon
Manhattan Transfer
Donald Fagan
Hans Zimmer
Greg Lake
Toys Chorus
Katy Perry
James Taylor
Wendy & Lisa
Seal
Elvis
Hear me human
hear my wolf’s song
as I keen and howl
for our dying world
so too
you must howl
raise your human voices
use your words
use them now
scream of the injustice
of the real danger
the imminent danger
we must rally
to seek
and to secure
the sacred balance
hold it close
become its protector
not its abuser
pitiful neglector
correct your imbalance
with our mother earth
respect your precious
place of birth
stop your human stupidity
please
I believe
with all the wildness
of my natural heart
with all the strength
of my free spirit
that some of you
want to do your part
want to join the battle
join the pact
to bring balance back
my kind
and our earth must trust
that you will
because you must
life on our earth
is dying
but it seems most humans
are just not trying
your carelessness
is killing our mother
gaia
and killing you and I
a result of your
lethal human arrogance
and this might just be
our final chance
we cannot let it
just go by
I was, where I am, when the snow began. Here, lost in reverie, remembering driving home for Christmas from the airport on a snowy night, after a long business trip — a memory triggered by this snowfall.
I remember the ruby chains of taillights, sparkling in the snowflakes, that floated to earth. Chains that stretched into darkness, over the horizon, pulling me along the freeway, home to you.
Exiting the interstate, I’d seek our country lane. I could make that left turn in my sleep. I’d envision every bend, every rise, every dip, stirring my heart. Finally came the drum roll of my tires, trundling the narrow wooden bridge, that spans the mountain stream — almost home.
Then parking, I’d turn off the motor, and crunch my way through fresh snow, as the front door opened. You’d come, bringing warmth — chai tea, and your loving arms.
Dark laid and down, with drum-thrummed head
steep-steers the black nocturnal nest
perversely born fantazury
fresh hatch this night’s menagerie
scream-bringing hoard of twisted truth
zoom-zooming in this blue-black world
called forth to gorge in ghastly feast
first stir, they roust then gore the beast
distressing visions overflow
stabbing with a brain-jolt pierce
disgusting curiosities
brute-flung to hideousity
jerk and lunge these soul-cleaved demons
death scratch-scratching through doomsday’s door
perverted serendipity
they swarm in horrorifity
flaying bone-toed my synapses
hell’s fleshless hounds devour my peace
mind-ghouls shake and shiver me
oh gentle morne — deliver me