turtle dances in slow motion

a memory poem ~ after gary snyder

your speed and closeness to the earth
neither brings sadness nor a growing mirth
watching you reminds me
of all the centuries

I too have crawled against the sometimes
hard earth, with no thought in mind,
no song in heart

making a start among
the cool wet bamboo fronds
catching tiny morsels on tongue,

reminding the crawler
that there is no finer thing in heaven,
or upon this earth---
but to continue....

the dance of life
is shining at noon, is crooning
underneath a full moon,

is felt with the intensity
of a soul awash-
inside a full and balanced hearth

fearless, love is simply
paying attention, and continuing
through the snow dampened bamboo

side stepping the mud-
finding a small hallowed-out
log to rest inside, and to recharge-

swinging molecules of breath,
through twin lungs, parallel harmony
strung along--

with felicitous fluid organelles
rearranging,
the future of an entire species

ancient one- you do not wallow,
you do not complain
through out a light cold
snow, in winter-- and within
one warm autumn rain

poem & photos by kate lamberg (c) '18