18

What chemistry this sea coast

to feed all kinds of terraqueous

forms and resiliencies the

bones of salmon in riverbed

exposed mollusk on storm beach

as we are heightened by sitka

spruce to overlook soup of

mists and spray where nations'

many songs came as compounds

formed out of Pacific ethers

and we will have no green-wash

spread about this cedared realm

because we know the winds

are not yet infectious and the

blackberries flavorous still

And that other chemistry

of social transformation

the thought network that

leads us to the edge of change

and pushes us over—Defenders

let’s take that courageous step

from the well-oiled machinery

we know into the ghostlier

realm of air and sunlight

we don’t but which yet beckons

the bubbling store of tomorrows

we may yet create if we still

harbor visions and if we still

see the orca spyhopping and the

village sprawl at forest fringe