for Catherine, my daughter,
on her birthday
In ancient times they all marveled, keeping
records of first sightings in Ireland, Greece,
Syria, China. Greek poets would sing,
giving it a name which never would cease
throughout time: from the verb we translate as
“to abandon”, “darken”, “fall down”. Perhaps
they wished to warn their children how days pass
like flashes of light; how their gods could lapse
into ego trips, crush humans’ hopes like stones
into dust. No matter. Their myths, their art
speak most to us. Tell of their flesh and bones,
logic, their sense of the universe, hearts
and minds connecting to all. You, artist,
teacher, move this forward: inspire, persist.
Roger Armbrust
August 21, 2017
