The Ancient Modern
Did I? / Joshua Alan Sturgill
Did I sit quietly, enough
to hear the daffodils
discuss the rain Did they
say dear Sun my Father;
did they say Sisters
of the stars Did I see the sky
glean by the edges
of the ocean, gathering waves
to weave the Clouds Did I
watch the Planets walking
backward, their predictions
reminiscences Do they
see clearly with a breadth
proportioned to their height
Did I stand in solitude,
my feet imprinting patient
clay Did the mice,
the wasps, the wrens forget
to fear me Did they find
my secret flight I am
not sitting; I am on a journey
Do the wheelbugs, rabbits,
solitary herons receive The Age
of Life which I, even now,
grasp in my open hand