May 3, 2020

Keeping Calm

Move. Move! Keep it goin', folks.
Keep it rollin'. Nothin' to see here,
ladies and gents. Move along.
Go on. Carry on. Keep calm.

I think I will, thank you. I believe
I will keep some of this calm. I'll
carry it in the palm of my hand like
an egg, keep it warm, nourishment.

I'll keep this calm the way some –
few – still keep the Sabbath. Holy.
I'll keep it wholly. I'll keep it
whole, a holy sacrament.

I'll keep it away from the train
wreck that cranes necks, the
mangled chain thrown off the
track headed nowhere anyway.

I'll keep this calm and go, go
somewhere green and cool
and quiet. I'll plant this calm,
or sit on it. And I will wait.

It will look as if I do nothing.
I will keep this calm, and look
the sinner, the sloth, the taker,
a threat – unproductive.

But this calm will grow,
within, beneath me. I will keep
it, carry it until it cracks open,
springing new life into a

wrecked world. This calm
will be something to see, ladies
and gents, something to stop
and witness, a holy spectacle.