Nature, Mentor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

 Another new poem today if only by way of my making (some) progress in warding off depression; it is an old enemy of mine, depression, and poetry has always proven more effective that any antidepressant. 

 Hopefully, dear readers, the end product will be of some comfort to you during these hard times as writing it has been for me.

 NATURE, MENTOR

A fat thrush flew to my window sill
from a branch of an old oak tree,
one of several guardians keeping watch
over house and garden, peered at me
and cocked its head to one side, possibly
curious about its reflection in the glass
or perhaps wondering why a human being
slumped in an armchair doesn’t spread wings,
take to the air, shrug off dull care 

The thrush flew off, and I lost count
of leaves torn away from the tree
by an autumnal breeze letting the world
know its intent to unsettle nature
and human nature simply because it can,
no other reason than that, and I’m left
envying a thrush for being able to go about
daily life in much the same way as it always has
and always will, no worries 

When next I looked, a squirrel squinted
back at me as if amazed that anyone
would prefer to slump in an old armchair
on a fresh, sunny day, winter on its way,
all the greater reason to be up and about,
nature not ready to go to sleep just yet,
swallows flown south and tortoises dozing
but Earth Mother insists we must put a show on,
not a full cast, better than none 

The tree, it returned squirrel to its heart
with a leap and a bound, out of sight
if not out of mind, and I fancy I can hear
Apollo’s lyre, urging me to get on with life,
no matter a coronavirus imposing chaos,
take my cue from nature, carry on regardless;
though it may sometimes be in short supply,
there’s joy to be had in the simplest, everyday task,
that cannot be hid behind a mask 

Wherever Covid-19 would strike humanity down,
be sure its mind-body-spirit will see us rise again

Copyright R. N. Taber
(October 21^st 2020) 

Take care and stay safe, folks,

Hugs, 

Roger

[Note: For those readers who dip into both blogs, this poem also appears on my gay-interest poetry blog today.]