Issue 2: J.P. Dancing Bear

There You Are

(Poem Starting with a Line by Margot Schilpp)

            “No matter where you go, there you are.”

                                    —Firesign Theater

Tell the trees you'll see them later

make it more of a promise, perhaps

a prophesy—although not so much

hoopla regarding your return. Say so

long to the birdies, chirpingly if you must,

you know to keep it short, almost

over your shoulder, they never were

great with departures anyway.  Heels

clacking the asphalt, you become

the metronome for all walkers.  It's easy—

making distance happen, leaving home,

turning your back from all those things

you love—so easy.  You can gait the world

and you'll know if you start to circumnavigate,

when on the other side —halfway— the path

turns muddy and rocky, the moment

you begin to turn and face the things you left.

Your muscles will chirp with pain as you wade

through the muck swamp of your doing,

that darker side we all must traverse,

to come back the wiser, older, harrowed

one —don't say hero here— it wasn't bravery

at all that made the quest.  Just one foot

before the other, hoping to see the dawn

coming through the open arms of trees.

--J.P. Dancing Bear

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