The Sixth Look

We knew we were important. Look again:

one fleeting instance of self-consciousness

condensed from chaos, drunk on energy,

and gambling that the world won't come undone.

Then take the dreaded sixth look, if you will,

and watch it vaporize the here and now

to vanish in the vast, forever void.

The sixth look reaches out through space and time

diminishing ambition, pain and cares:

the mortgage, renovations, roof repairs,

vaccines and viral variants and death,

the unmarked graves of children of the land,

endangered species in a swift decline

amidst the melting ice and desert sand

and warm, acidic, plastic laden sea;
and climate change and climate change again,

But with a sixth look shared, the meaning shouts

full-throated, chanting loud our ancient tale

of love and victories and ignorance

and willful blame and shame and new resolve.

Then dreaming our tomorrows in our song,

in grief's lament or hope-filled harmony,

no voice alone and no one left behind,

a sixth look shared, we carry on and on.