Eclipse of the Moon by Mary Susanah Robbins - HTML preview

to one away in Africa

what a good life

to sit in one place

day after day

unless in distress

or pity

not to move

my feeling here for you is rooted

in a sandy soil

it grows tenaciously

but yesterday

a stalk of my mother-of-millions —

the plant which scatters itself daily

in tiny seedlings

and is thus replenished

and not diminished —

fell over

of its own weight

and the long root like a horse tail

gave in to the sand's giving up —

I could not help but think

the ending, wavering stem

felt light and free

in my hand.

I who would snatch you back

from that other place —

my whole heart goes with this —

I who always considered

how you sit here

to be a miracle —

so outwardly still

my last breath

makes an indentation —

I who rage ceaselessly

after my desires

and bring the spoils to you

considering to catch myself

a miracle —

that I should grow

so rooted in one place

in my mind

that it should not waver

unless to discern itself better

— from that one place

may all grief come

to your jungles of Africa

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