Yesterday, when I received this poem, my heart soared. It has been awhile since I have seen a lizard, but I, too, grew up on a land of many lizards. Tarantulas, too. Ok, I admit that tarantulas still give me the willies, but what a coincidence! I am not familiar with the work of Alberto Rios, but my heart soared again when I learned that he holds the title of Inaugural State Poet Laureate of Arizona. I am not sure that all of that should be capitalized, but seems like it should be. He does not know it, but he and I both will turn 70 in September. Suddenly, I am possessed with the idea to go to Arizona to study writing, and maybe even do some!
I do not have a single photograph of a lizard. This well camouflaged roadrunner must do. I was in Chino Valley, Arizona last year when I was blessed to spot this elusive creature. We are all knitted together. You and I and all that breathes. Surely rocks breathe in some mysterious way. Maybe I will study science, too.
Today is Friday. As I mentioned last week, Friday is a day I devote to looking for a different view. Perhaps this is news meant only for me, but I share anyway. I love this poem.
Wishing you all love and laughter today, and always.
Weekend Weather
I misheard the weatherman say
There was rain and a chance of lizards this weekend.
I knew I had misheard it, but still.
I knew, too, never to take anything for granted,
Never to assume, which makes you know what
Out of u and me. Thank you
Miss Lee and second grade. What I heard -
It was silly, perhaps, but I looked around anyway
At least once or twice during the day
As I carefully crossed the very dry street.
This is a place of lizards, after all, and the news
As I heard it was not impossible. Blizzards
Somewhere else, but lizards here. Very possible.
My childhood, after all, was made of them.
I remember a summer of migrating tarantulas,
And I think today they would have made the news
Similarly. Rather than mishearing, perhaps
I heard news meant only for me.
Sometimes, that's how the world is,
Speaking in whatever voice it can find.
A chance of lizards for me -
And me ready for them, old friends, old friends.
~ Alberto Rios
There was rain and a chance of lizards this weekend.
I knew I had misheard it, but still.
I knew, too, never to take anything for granted,
Never to assume, which makes you know what
Out of u and me. Thank you
Miss Lee and second grade. What I heard -
It was silly, perhaps, but I looked around anyway
At least once or twice during the day
As I carefully crossed the very dry street.
This is a place of lizards, after all, and the news
As I heard it was not impossible. Blizzards
Somewhere else, but lizards here. Very possible.
My childhood, after all, was made of them.
I remember a summer of migrating tarantulas,
And I think today they would have made the news
Similarly. Rather than mishearing, perhaps
I heard news meant only for me.
Sometimes, that's how the world is,
Speaking in whatever voice it can find.
A chance of lizards for me -
And me ready for them, old friends, old friends.
~ Alberto Rios
image: Chino Valley, AZ 2021
No comments:
Post a Comment