Hatagoya's Desk

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

Origin Of The Species

By Russell Joseph 

(In honor of my late father, Russell.  May he Rest in Peace - The Plum Tree Tavern's original barkeep.  He has left this establishment to his eldest son - my name is Morgen) 

May he live on forever in this space he loves, crafting words and enjoying collaborators he chose carefully.  He was a judicious editor  & I will continue that legacy.  Some of his dying breaths were to post another poem here. So I will begin with one of his.

We love & miss you Dad ~ Morgen, Devin & Margot ~

"We died in the dust.

We died in the rain.

We died on the hills in the arms of our fathers who came and who died and hung from the crosses and died in the darkness and ashes with our mothers before us.

We died in our beds and we fell from the cliffs and died on the rocks.

We drowned in the sea and we died in the summer and we died the day we were born in famine and plague.

We died on the mountain by fire and stone.

We died in the mouths of hyenas in the jaw of despair and we died in the valley leaving footprints and bone.

We danced on the flood and we climbed on the shore and we stood in the cave in the eye of the lamb and our veins and our lungs were the sound of the drums on the moor in the song of the heart and the hymn of the dove.

We rose out of mud and we came out of clay.

We came out of the tomb and the mouth of the fish and we rose from our graves to the hour of earth from the weave and the warp and the loom of the night.

We came from the ark and the maze and we rose from the dew and we came to the day with the loaves of the bread and the skins of the wine.

We walked on the water and we walked on the moon and we walked on the streets of diamond paved cities in impossible joy wearing dresses of light.

We rose out of dirt and rode on the wind and we wrote on the walls and came up from the wreck of our ships in unfathomable deep with the heart of the ocean passed through by the storm.

We came with the flame and the wand of the stars in our hands on the third morning of May and we came out of desert and we swam on the tides with the breath and the word and the names of our gods on our lips and like heroes and ghosts and lovers survive."


5 comments:

Juan Opril said...

Your father brought a ton of excellent energy together here, a thing brilliantly vital: a lasting Good Work.

Christina Chin said...

Dear Russell,
Thank you abundantly for your mentorship, encouragement and support for the haiku community. I have benefitted greatly from your generous feedback.
With a heavy heart, farewell.
Christina

JeromeBerglund said...

Such a pivotal force in moral and environmental activism, knowledgeable scholar and generous educator, kind person and brilliant writer, analyst and editor. Profound condolences to family, will be deeply missed!

paul callus said...

Good morning, Morgen.
I have just learnt of the passing away of your father Russell. His presence, hard work and dedication will be sorely missed.
May I pass on my condolences to you and the rest of the family.
God bless.

paul callus said...

Good morning, Morgen.
I have just learnt of the passing away of your father Russell. His presence, hard work and dedication will be sorely missed.
May I pass on my condolences to you and the rest of the family.
God bless.

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