Wild Geese Flying

HE HEARD THEM FIRST

BARKING IN THE NIGHT

LIKE WILD DOGS

UNTIL CURIOSITY DROVE AWAY THE SLEEP

PUT ONE FOOT FORTH TO TEST THE AIR

WRAPPED HIS BLANKETS

AND PUSHED HIM FROM THE TENT

TO STAND AND WATCH THE CALLING GEESE

FLY ACROSS THE MOON

PERHAPS IT WAS THE WAY HE STOOD

BLANKET ROBED

ARMS ENTWINED AGAINST THE COLD

THAT MADE HIM THINK

BRAVE INDIAN CHIEF AM I
CHIEF HAPPY LAUGHTER
OR RAIN COME SINGING DOWN
THAT MADE HIM WISH
FOR TIMES LESS TROUBLED
THAN HIS OWN
AND KNEW THE WISH WAS FOOLISH
EVEN CHIEF RUNNING WATER
KNEW TIMES OF DROUGHT
HOW FOOLISH TO KEEP WASTING LIFE IN WISHES
TO WISH FOR PEACEFUL TIMES THAT NEVER WERE
FOR EACH MAN'S LIFE IS TO THE BRIM WITH SORROW

EACH AGE HAS ITS OWN PECULIAR TALE OF WOE

FAR BETTER TO ACCEPT THE WORLD WE LIVE IN

TO RECOGNIZE ITS ILLS,

TO SEEK IT’S CURE
THAN TO SPEND THE TIME BEWAILING SUMMER DREAMS
GOOD GOD HE THOUGHT

DO WE THINK THAT CHRIST HUNG OUT IN RAIN

AND THUNDER

FOR EVERY AGE BUT OURS

HE FELT THE COLD

COME CREEPING UP HIS STOCKING

BUT HE KNEW

AS LONG AS GEESE CAME BARKING BY

HE WOULD STAY

EVEN UNTIL THE DAWN


FRANK A VOLLMER