Fires burning

Fires are burning and the sun is going down
everyone is hiding in this ghost town

the birds are afraid to stop and breathe
shadows are broken as they try to leave

fingers are pointed, everyone's to blame
running scared and desperately ashamed

squirrels hoarding nuts in the nearest tree
going in circles, they'll never be free

bears wake from their hibernation
see the insanity beyond de-forestation

go back into your cave to survive
migration trails are blocked to the hive

over eat and stare dumbly about
suddenly realize there's no way out

get back to your daily routine
don't even think what it means

fires are burning, smoke is in the air
no one can see, cause there's no one there

(c) 2020 Catherine Elder

Alone

I have always been alone

even in a crowd

I dwell in the quiet

beyond the noise

Introverted

my thoughts are friends

even when they change

they don’t spend malice

the trees and birds

deliver comfort on a breeze

the earth ever stalwart

is reliable and steadfast

nature obeys the rules

of time and season

weathering storms and drought

without complaint

I can be still

in the quiet

feel my heart beat

the ache in my back

and listen for the sound

of the geese overhead

Not bothered by complaints

of crowding

(c)2020 by Catherine Elder

Turtle tears

Butterflies

drink turtle tears

they use sensors 

on their feet and legs

to taste food 

including sodium

landing lightly

not to hurt the turtle

says National Geographic

but they did not elucidate

on why

the turtle cries

(c) March 2020 by Catherine Elder