From Out Of Nowhere Poem by Etienne Charilaou

‘Welche wonne, welche lust
regt sich nun in meiner brust.'
This cheerful melody happily tortures me;
for I am not upbeat;
my hot air balloon weighed down
by many a sand bag,
I would cut these ballasts one by one,
let them fall down to where they belong in the dirt;
and then will I rise, float dreamily away
without care or fear,
into the stratosphere.

Are you trying too hard?
Take a step back, and rest.
Relax. Oh, so easily said
than done!

If you don't know what to do - do nothing!
Then when you must decide, remember
your heart is the best gauge for this.

Lizards are active then laze in the sun.
Lizards know exactly what to do next.
They are instinct-driven,
they move when they move,
and pause when they pause.
This natural spontaneity we lack.
and often are taken aback,
when we do not realize the time of rest has come;
and try to force what shouldn't be.

There is a time to kill ants
and a time to refrain from killing ants.
Killing insects seems inescapable.
Mosquitoes especially have earned our ire.
I envy those temple-minders in India
who can co-exist with rats;
whom they will never harm, being sacred,
allowing many to crawl,
all over them, feeding them; not minding
their numbers or the fear of disease;
or thefts of food.
One rat in the house means
its ultimate doom should it remain indoors.
A trap will snap and snuff out a life -
a small rodent life but valuable still.
And then the household relaxes and breathes again.

How far we are
from being
in harmony with all!
We are gods but too young,
too inexperienced, too rash,
so unwise and impatient.
We are bad inheritors of this Earth.

Has it not been said:
‘The universe is in labour.'
A spiritual rebirth is what's needed,
and it will come though it tarry.

I think I am so clever;
having produced this word-tether.
I have run out of insights to share;
trying so hard to produce one more,
but - no - the sun beckons me,
and outside I will go.