In Ordinary Times
In Ordinary Time
In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on. Robert Frost
Year after year I await forsythia, thrilled
to see the tiny fireworks.
I spy the peony’s purple velvet
fronds in quiet explosion.
But since I’ve been alive
there has been a backstory that competes
with each emergent spring.
It’s a black story that drains color from the sky.
Do you know the story
about the accidents, the nuclear accidents?
Soon I expect to see daylily, lilac,
viburnum’s miniature and burgeoning bouquets
waiting to flourish.
Life goes on…
The story begins
in New Mexico, nineteen forty-five
then Greenland
Britain
Mexico
the Soviet Union and Japan,
then Baneberry at Yucca Flat
Morocco
and Three Mile Island
Chernobyl
Canada
and Zaragosa, Spain
Costa Rica
India
and Tokaimura, Japan
Panama
Thailand
Fukushima
Ordinarily it’s true that crocus, jonquil and quince quietly
arrive live flourish
no accident life
goes on…ordinarily that’s true.
©Jean Cassidy Asheville, NC March 29, 2011
A poem of thanks to all those folks at www.NoNuclearWasteinWNC.com who are working to disseminate the word throughout our regional community about the proposed dumping of nuclear waste in WNC and what we can do about it.
