Often I Imagine the Earth
by Dan Gerber
Often I imagine the earth
through the eyes of the atoms we’re made of—
atoms, peculiar
atoms everywhere—
no me, no you, no opinions,
no beginning, no middle, no end,
soaring together like those
ancient Chinese birds
hatched miraculously with only one wing,
helping each other fly home.
IMAGE: “Jian birds” from Sancai Tuhui, an encyclopedia compiled by Wang Qi and his son Wang Siyi, completed in 1607 and published in 1609 during the Ming dynasty, featuring illustrations of subjects in the three worlds of heaven, earth, and humanity.
NOTE: The Jian, also known as birds that fly together, are mythical birds that possess only one eye and one wing. These creatures are born imperfect, and need to lean against each other and act as one in order to fly. Their mutual dependence is eternal, lasting through death and rebirth.
POETRY and PLACES 