To Stop the World

The world sweeps quietly around that star that blazes on

And spins a silent dance for viewers that have come and gone.

And nothing that exists upon this world is ever still;

The very mountains rise and crumble, as is nature’s will.

The oceans heave and sigh and sway and lunge against the cliffs

Or kiss the sands upon which once shown ancient hieroglyphs.

The many rivers sometimes flow in calm and hushed repose

Or stumble madly through the rocks and plunge in deaf’ning throes.

And in the air, the dust of plains and fields is borne away

To light elsewhere and clump and fuse and form a stone someday.

The clouds drift high without a place, escorted by the wind;

And whence they come and whither go, they do not stop to lend.

To be at one with all on such an animated stage,

One stills the heart and mind and turns not o’er the pending page.

r. nuñez, 4/2019