Counting the Molecules

—Poems by James Lee Jobe, Davis, CA
—Anonymous Feet (Foot?) Photos Courtesy of James Lee Jobe

Fresh sunlight tickles
The east windows at daybreak—
Good morning, everyone!

________________

Putah Creek.
Summer.
Daybreak.
The creek, always moving,
Slides by at the very place
Where night and morning cross paths,
And then goes on past
On its way to heaven.

Will no one count the molecules?
How many specs of dust are in the world?
How many drops of water are in the oceans?
How many breaths have been breathed
By the primates since the beginning of primates?
How many breaths by the amphibians?
Will no one count the molecules
And report the number on the evening news?
How many dogs have set off at a run
The second the car door was opened
And they saw the green grass of the park?
O my son who is now ashes, I just don't know
How many songs have played on the radio
Or the number of hairs on the heads of the senators.
And I don't know long this grief will last.
Probably as long as I last.

The taste of you, your body, in the dust,
The taste of dust, forgotten.
Your eyes in shadow.
Your eyes encrusted with sleep.
Diamonds, crawling with fleas.
Diamonds, like vomit in a bucket
That splashes as you walk, carrying it.
A bit on your pants,
A bit on the concrete sidewalk.
The truth of it all is in front of you—
Tomorrow is a lie,
It isn't coming at all.

This life is a circle, like your lips in a kiss.
Now I am moving around and around
In love and in life. Together with you.

________________

Pass me an orange,
Friend.

We ride here, to this place,
On the thought and breath of that which is divine.

Just as the rind of the fruit is not as delicious as the core inside,
So is the soul more fine than the container in which it rides.

When the day comes to return Home,
Embrace the thought and the breath of the divine.

Eat the fruit.
Rejoice. 

No life is free of sorrow, so this:
May sorrow not turn me to darkness.
May I face my sorrow with the light around me.

________________

Today’s LittleNip:

For people, and for nations,
May we cease competing and begin sharing.

—James Lee Jobe

____________________

Many thanks to James Lee Jobe for today’s fine postings at the Kitchen table, and a belated happy birthday to him (his birthday was last Wednesday)! James will be hosting an all-open-mic night at The Other Voice in Davis next Friday, 7:30pm, at the Unitarian Universalist Church library on Patwin Road.

Drop by the Sac. Poetry Center Gallery today from 5-8pm for the Second Saturday Art Opening/Reception for this month’s artists, Mary Lynn Tenenbaum and Jonathan Baran, with guitar music tonight by Bob Stanley. Scroll down to the blue column (under the green column at the right) for info about this and other upcoming poetry events in our area—and note that more may be added at the last minute.

—Medusa

Leshan Giant Buddha

 —Anonymous Photo
Celebrate poetry!

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