august sixth lament

i hate to think that someday the sun will burn out.
that even if we come to our senses
create world peace long before then
still, no one thereafter will read mary oliver's words
or listen to blues or feel what i'm feeling right now
no one to remember our saints or
witness the genius of art that should never die
i grieve the thought despite that it waits at the end of forever

then august sixth reminds me: it could be any minute
one
man
and
one
finger
my god what have we done!


mary oishi
5 & 6 august 2009