Earth Mandala

We made the mandala (she tore the red petals from a spectacular tree-peony, see Extras) and then decorated a small bamboo tower with flowers and other treasures we found in her yard. Then we sat in the shade with a few poetry books. This one we had to read twice, slapping our thighs in uproarious laughter as we reached the conclusion, laughter at the absurdity of human fury over what we think we have lost. 

A Speech at the Lost-and-Found
by Wislawa Szymborska

I lost a few goddesses while moving south to north,
and also some gods while moving east to west.
I let several stars go out for good, they can’t be traced.
An island or two sank on me, they’re lost at sea.
I’m not even sure exactly where I left my claws,
who’s got my fur coat, who’s living in my shell.
My siblings died the day I left for dry land
and only one small bone recalls that anniversary in me.
I’ve shed my skin, squandered vertebrae and legs,
taken leave of my senses time and again.
I’ve long since closed my third eye to all that,
washed my fins of it and shrugged my branches. 

Gone, lost, scattered to the four winds. It still surprises me
how little now remains, one first person sing., temporarily
declined in human form, just now making such a fuss
about a blue umbrella left yesterday on a bus.