Reel Mower

went back to the future and bought a push mower
no gas no fumes no cacophony of vibrating noise
and suddenly a pause to talk with people
first time the neighbor waved hi while the mowing
was going on some teens walking by laughed
as if it was a toy and couldn't do the job
but to see how the blades build up speed
from human push is discovering the whirling gears
that make the universe spin, spin
with its sharp curved blades trimming the grass
and feeding it to itself
a green serpent swallowing its tail
an emerald dragon in an endless Chinese parade
yet the warning that what you carelessly touch
can cut you -- how the world can eat you up
and spit you out how Kronos after overthrowing his father
then fearing the same eats all but one of his children
and rules for a Golden Age but he too is overthrown --
how we all spin and spin
yet look for the way
to walk the razor's edge
to shake the wheel of time
to break this pungent trance
 
ascend as light as dandelion fluff
lift up
the twilight sky
pull back the curtain
on this whole charade
and walk the fields
fine grass between the toes
with head that's crowned among the stars
and heart that knows no difference

Mankh (Walter E. Harris III) is an essayist and resident poet on Axis of Logic. In addition to his work as a writer, he is a small press publisher and Turtle Islander. You can contact him via his literary website.

READ MORE OF MANKH'S POEMS AND ESSAYS ON AXIS OF LOGIC