Collective
The evening train mirrors graceful bends of the stream
like a snake winding its powerful body through sand to grass to autumn leaves,
searching for food and rest,
moving like barges that glide along the flowing river,
carrying corn and grain to silos feeding cities
that rise from the riverbanks in organized
hives of specialized workers, each vital
breath drawn in concert across continents,
converging on a world wide web sharing
free speech, Mama's recipes, book reviews, dance moves,
foreign thoughts, cures for diseases, hope for fears
of refugees packed in camps,
like midnight wolves in a leafless forest
surrounded by cubs and elders
sharing survival in deepest winter
through to dawn of spring
that hosts bouquets of blue, lavender, red, pink, and yellow buds,
green sprouts that arise
from sleeping seeds dropped by flocks of migrating
V shapes taking the lead by turn
on waves of morning winds, thermal springs sustaining
fleets of tugboats that ease ships through the harbor
to find rest alongside piers supplying
the army of trucks that snake along the concrete
rivers by day and night to carry bread, soccer balls, snakeskin belts,
laptops, ripe tomatoes, La-Z-Boys, sheets and towels, canned peaches
to hungry households living, thriving
under the bright sun
lighting neighborhoods, playgrounds, schools
discovering the secrets of planet, oceans, and wildlife
down to the parade of ants hauling heavy loads
to ensure the life of the colony
striving for food and rest
