Tallinn Again

The photographer must have woken early
to capture Tallinn so unpeopled in summer
even seven or thirteen years ago

Last summer I would have wondered
if you were just around her lens,
I asked you for advice about this city where you'd been
wanting something from you I didn't really need

Now I look at your picture and feel nothing
beyond nothing, the absence of an extra heartbeat

Maybe like Tallinn I am more timeless empty
but writing this my eyes prickle with tears

If All Thinking Stopped

If all thinking stopped today
nobody would die
we wouldn't suddenly start killing one another
carelessly spreading diseases
falling off bridges
or causing economic collapse
we do that already
but we must think clearly
to maximize the freedom of others
tethered to their Gods, apetites and fears
because people choose only
from the options they see
to spread reason is to open their eyes

Where Cloud Meets Glacier

Where cloud meets glacier
there is a little pink
in this land of green and blue
an eternal kiss
because the earth's crust folds
casting shadows on itself
higher places on lower ones
but sometimes
by a big expanse of turquoise fjord
a window
catches a glint of evening sun
that the mountains have let through

Traveling Through Norway

Tunnels snail up and down mountains
from the inside

I wonder how people reached these lone farms
before the road?

Maybe they were sufficient
having wood for fire
salmon and elk to smoke for winter
hiking down to the fjord to trade
once a year
their wild pelts for foreign fruit

Digging for gold or ore
at a time when we dug in to the end
to meet the minotaur
or find the dragon's lair
not to pass through

When trolls guarded bridges
and you were safer to travel by water

Bus to Trondheim

The panorama from the windows
could be a magnificent movie called The Earth
Norway really is that beautiful!

But why do we thirst
to swallow it all with our eyes
our feet barely touching the earth?

We tunnel through mountains
traverse fjords over bridges

I would climb these stark grey rocks
swim in these icy waters
gather firewood for the long winter
if there were time

I would spend a year in each place

watch seasons turn instead of hours
but then I would have no home
and be always a stranger

Viking Song

Farewell my love the waves are calling
I go to a land of untold wealth
where wheat stands tall in the golden sun
and weak kings reign who know not oar nor bow

Stay here my love our land is rich with summer berries
Save your arrows for dear and winter bear
they are nothing to sea monsters
I fear you will not return

I long to fight the monsters of the deep
so our deeds will be immortal
I'll bring you fruit never tasted here
spices to warm the long winter nights

My dear you'll starve to death a fool
Your ship holds food for three days only
Do you know where you're going?
How will you find your way home?

We go to an unknown land
but the Gods go with us
We have made our sacrifices
and know which star to follow

Then take me along with you
I am strong, we rowed together
I spun yarn to weave your sail
and felled oak to build your ship

Our bairn is young and needs you
he is too small to survive such a voyage
when I come back he'll be strong
then we'll all sail to golden beaches

With your belly full and the women frail
why will you return to our harsh land?
My father sailed and his before him
our son will sail and leave me old and weak

Then why will you wait and not go alone
or get with child by another man?
Give me a lock of hair and I'll give you mine
promise to wait and I'll return

With this gold curl I bind my fate to yours
See the golden seal? It is my spirit swimming after you
if you're true I will bring you good winds
but if you tarry I'll bring a storm and drown your ship

Arbeit Macht Frei

Work makes you free
cast in Dachau's iron gate
from the outside

More were killed by work
than freed by Allied soldiers

Running too would have freed their souls

How many visitors have entered this gate
long after the prisoners and guards have left?

Do they realize we could all do this?

We photograph the gate
and open it for each other

Squirrels

The female squirrel
seems remarkably unmoved
as the male mounts her

After he leaves
she goes back to eating acorns

The next time
she moves

He hops right over
missing her

Francis Alys and Madison Square Gardens

Faith moves mountains
but so do shovels
and 1000 hands

Does it take faith
to blow a soap bubble
for the first time?

The little girl looks frustrated
as her younger brother succeeds
then bubbles flow
and she has a look of quiet confidence
until she realizes she is not as prolific

I forget to notice the marigold
floating round the pond a second time
but I can make it float
in my mind