Entropy

One hundred thousand years ago
the surface of the earth broke open.
And out of this colossal crystalline trench,
(for back then the earth was covered
in pristine untouched quartz),
out of this trench,
flew with sticky newborn wings
a little brown owl.
Who turned its head all the way around
once, and then twice,
and a third time,
sending the earth on an unexpected tailspin.
As Time passed
some inconceivable number of ugly newborn things
was thrown out of this trench,
made when the earth opened up.
The inbeautiful crystals of the earth’s belly
were soon covered in a mural
of dirt and grime:
a tale of violent participation. 

And the little brown owl
saw the ugliness and felt satisfied,
watching from its perch on Earth’s shoulder,
its feathers occasionally ruffled
by the wayward force
of Time’s changing free winds.

2017, revised 2022