For Becky Aten
My friend walks a moss-carpeted forest.
Two tiny dogs in tow.
Could we sum up human life this way-
we appear, we grow & spread,
we may have color & texture,
we are surely walked upon,
maybe sniffed, lovingly stroked by
caring hands, we will die.
Is it really that simple?
My friend walks on rocks
& twigs & crunchy red leaves.
My friend sniffs the air,
snaps a picture of a sleepy landscape,
eyes closed while breathing in.
Moss protected by maples.
Eyes protected from screens.
My friend wonders if
their Earth-saving actions mean anything.
They have the skill to not lose their calm
for wicked people because love dwells within.
The Universe says the Bhagavad Gita
is not concerned with our joy,
our lives, our upcoming doom.
The Universe swims in the darkness
of its own joy & doom,
with equanimity.
Maybe the Universe is too busy
spinning in its own feisty wind.
My friend wonders if the Universe
is paying attention.
—
Jennifer McKeen Rodrigues currently lives on the sacred Powhatan land of Fairfax, VA. She is trained as a certified yoga therapist & trauma informed yoga teacher, is a queer & neurodivergent military spouse, & mom. She has been featured in many lovely literary journals & anthologies, & has been nominated for Best of the Net with her photography. Find her on Insta @gmoneyfunklove.
