Earth

In the beginning
the Earth is round
the moon is
out there not
up there,
and standing on a beach watch
the Sun
reflecting long on
shifting water,
does not go down.
We are turning into Earth-shade.

All the people we can see,
stepping down from buses,
wrapped in scarves,
getting in or out of cars,
carrying bags of groceries,
walking slowly.

and all the people we can not see,
squat in rice fields,
shoulder deep in ditches,
lighting incense,
bone mothers,
sleeping on sidewalks with
long bellied babies,

we are companions
on this tiny planet,
hurtling through space,
born naked,
sometimes afraid, sometimes
full of wonder,
often lonely.

7 January 1977 English 224