The Other Side

Take my soul, but the struggle

continues – Ken Saro Wiwa

A second hand light embezzled from the sun

a dim attempt to best nature. An inauthentic

magnificence which fades like a drug induced dream.

Grotesque necklaces of halogen and neon chocking the world,

powered by sacred mountains reduced to poisoned dust and

toxic soot smears across the holy desert skies.

An anomalous infestation on the natural order of things.

An excrescence spawned by the mad coupling of a

phantom called reason with a nightmare named progress

Sid Bridges

In the right hand lane

Heading South on Route 64

Saw a late model blue Mitsubishi

truck swerve to

shoulder around what thought

was wheel

 

I also swerved but saw it

was large tortoise

trying to get across

6 lanes of interstate.

 

I saw the neck stretch out

walking then stopping

and going in shell

as my truck approached

 

My prayers, my fears, my uncertainties,

and my admiration

symbol of longevity & this land

going headlong towards danger

technology rampant death, destruction

will we make it.

 

Turtle, Alexandria, VA 28/5/97

Earth First Journal February-March 2001