I Read In The New York Times Poem by Charles Chaim Wax
I Read In The New York Times
that Kansas passed a law
endorsing intelligent design
and not long after reading the article
eighteen inches of snow hit Brooklyn
so deep that Spinoza high school
was closed for the first time
in eight years
at night I strolled the avenues
now
a winter wonderland
when suddenly from the heavens
more snow
and a joy I couldn’t really fathom
took me—
alive
just being alive
then marveling at snowflakes
in the palm of my hand
no two alike
ever
on all the fabled streets of Brooklyn
now twinkling with mile after mile
of unthinkable beauty
this system of transformation
dazzling
or the heart beating
or each cell
living and dying
within me
without my awareness
of the miracle
yet
somehow
a force
beyond my calculation
shaped this fantastic
intricate
self propelled
structure.
Very nice piece of work...to be 'surprised by joy' in Nature, I suppose DOES imply the Order in the Universe...though, ironically, the example you mention snarls traffic, creates DISorder on one level. Visiting my folks in St. Louis, I used to walk to their place from my midtown hotel (I didn't like staying at their place, during one period) in or after blizzards, and all they could say was 'you'll catch cold! ' (following their 'parent script') . Sort of wish we had a good snow once in awhile where I live now; but then, I also like the palm trees.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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5/5/2024 8:39:00 PM # 1.0.0.1119
How did you keep the snowflakes in your hand long enough to study them before they melted Charles, did you have cold hands, if so then, maybe you have a warm heart to compensate. Nice write. Love Ernestine