15 Comments
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Lev Raphael's avatar

Truly gorgeous. And ominous. It channels Joan Didion.

Deborah Kay Kelly's avatar

"...notes from an extinct scale" These, Parts 1-4, are so stimulating, X.P.

Celeste's avatar

all 4 together are powerful, amazing, highly readable. well written, XP

Margaret Ann Silver's avatar

Wow.

Tina Carlson's avatar

Such a great series!!

Kim Nelson's avatar

... the mountains could see it all coming

Brava!

Michael Drummond's avatar

Wow, that was epic!

Martin Garcia's avatar

Callahan!

This moved me the most, "each new moral panic commanded, / downed medications and took / tequila-fueled leave of their senses." This makes me think about my own weakness when facing other's poverty and war. The drinks I consume to make myself 'okay' when the money could be used to help others. I am glad Josh showed me you.

Hope all is well!

X. P. Callahan's avatar

So happy to have you here, Martin.

Mark Rico's avatar

... and you give this kind of quality away for free. You're a national treasure.

Cathy A Wickham's avatar

I love this poem. I love the perspecitve of geologic, deep time, and all it has seen.

Mary Holscher's avatar

Love the whole “meanwhile, the mountains…” section. Powerful poem!

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Ominous and aptly named. I can feel the mountains moving closer toward a people who are already living their own end.

Alexis R Kane's avatar

So fantastic. Powerful and deft crescendo. I remember this one! From that Permian shale, to those mountains. Wow.