BABEL
I wonder what the sea thought
when it first
heard us
think
heard us speak in
many tongues
ask the sea itself, and sky,
why it should be
that we think
so many words bursting out
like flowers in bloom
across the globe
music, yes,
and cacophony too
not as many syllables of sound
as the stars
but strung together
we
are
the mind’s answer
to infinity
and then, the Sun,
our sometime god,
not so recently nudged
off that throne
now just
middle-rank, more
hospitable than most
as stars go
yes, Sun, Leo boy, its
you of whom I am currently thinking
so pay attention
whilst I am speaking
want to ask you
what you thought when our
planet erupted
with signs and symbols, icons
and the like
put your face on flags and
all things kingly
did you, who gave us
so much but
sometimes
threaten
to take
decipher anything there
that gave you
room for comfort
or eclipsed your dream
with an unknown despair? ,