And I in My Place

Just sitting around on Planet Earth

taking in what’s going on, liking

a few things I see and perceive,

disgusted with all the rest. I am

thinking about me here in my

place and how I got to this, trees

and grass, purple martins swooping

for insects below partly cloudy skies,

hurricanes, volcanoes and wild fires

elsewhere, interstates flowing to and

fro to wherever it is they go, vendors

opening their doors catering to the

demands of cash and credit card

customers, politicians making deals

behind the scenes, a doe and her

fawn hidden among the forest trees,

a preacher opens his bible looking

for the right verse to recite for his

Sunday sermon, soldiers in Afghan-

istain muster for reveille at dawn,

caged migrant parents separated

from their children at the border

with Mexico, Meerkat of the Kala-

hari perched on hind legs on the

lookout for danger, two Mormon

missionaries knocking on doors,

Bach’s Prelude and Fugue no. 21, ocean

waves, pauper’s graves, AA meetings

at noon, Greenland is not for sale; crystal

vases and birthday cakes are, genuine

originals will cost you, rip-offs and fakes

are cheaper…

and here I am after I wake, just sitting

around in my place on Planet Earth con-

templating the world for all it’s worth,

taking another drag off my cigarette,

sipping my last drop of coffee before

whatever happens to come next.

Cicadas calling for a mate (for some 
it's too late)…

The damn gas bill needs to be paid.

Chris Hanch 8-29-19