63437 Poem by RIC BASTASA

WISDOM

there is wisdom in the birds
the sky
there is wisdom on the grass
wisdom in the river
there is wisdom in the sea
even in the stone
there is wisdom in the leaves
so much wisdom underneath
the trees
treasure in their roots

those that do not speak
there is so much wisdom in them
in their natural silence

there is, and this is what we think,
so much wisdom in ourselves
gifted as we are with mouths that speak
but the more we open our mouths
the less wise we become

to them, to those who never speak a word
to us
perhaps all they do is listen to us
as we appear too foolish to them
in our noise

there is so much wisdom in God

and like them, those
who like the trees and the posts with their
lights shining at night,
and
the sun and the moon
who stand still amid the chaos,

He has not spoken ever since.

Him i have not heard
Speaking to a man
named Moses
burning once as a bush
never consumed by its own
fire

telling once that
in a holy place we have
to leave our sandals
and go barefoot
for once.