All At Once Poem by mark fishbein

I want to be everywhere at once-
In Paris, city with fog of midnight gargoyles,
In New York, an unnoticed face in the parade,
In the Okavango swamps among the giant ospreys,
In Rio when the wet bodies of Carnival entwine...

I want to taste all the tastes at once-
The spices, the holiness of warm bread,
The foam of duck egg on mushroom,
The thrill of icy pilsner,
The water of the coconut...

I want to hear all the music at once-
The whispering leap of leaves to the ground,
The blast of ancient airs and coloratura,
The razzmatazzy dizzy jazzes
And concertos for guitar...

I want it all at once, the exploding galaxies,
All that I have lived, all that I learned-
Each day with something adding on,
Like today, like this moment.
All at once! A smorgasbord
Of love and giving all life!

Poor man, deluded soul! -
The wise have learned to
Play it one round at a time.
Who are those angels of death
Who deal the chips in your passing?
You have known all along they take all,
All at once, in one throw of the dice.