Climate Change*

Studying the ice age in 6th grade history
a girl writes an advice column, pen named Ms. Mammoth
(better luck to current columnists than the mammuthus primigenius—
at least they still get Disney).



* Courtesy of Poems 350, seeking 3.5 line poems about climate change.

The Distance An Ant Has to Crawl

The distance an ant covers is infinite
(compared to it)
me or you
could take a few strides,
but in whose steps can we
become?

Young boys choose dinosaurs
to compare
refusing the ultimate
distance
blissfully unaware
of the end.

The I-Beam

To build skyscrapers
higher than possible
means quickly
erect

pursuit replaced by speed
skylines
no thought of sunset.

Bay Window

To provide the illusion
of a larger room.

To increase the flow
of natural light.

To escape
the room
(without actually escaping) it
still
sitting inside
stuck
behind
a window.

Spire

Tiny winding staircase
rarely scaled.

The occasional tourist
Searching for something other.

Temporarily
untired
from aspiring

to reach higher.

Lean-to

I.
Three walls and a sloping roof (sometimes tacked on).
The reverse of a peninsula (a hat).
Shelter enough (for a snack).
An add on.

Invented space,
made of parameters.

II.
To lean on
as opposed to stand up.

To relax
in contrast to continuing.

To float
instead of treading water.

III.
To see
as opposed to analyze

To be
in contrast to competing.

Lean-to joy
to gratitude
to mercy.

Flying Buttress*

The image of a dog
comes to mind
cold, wanting
for supper,

or the secret that stays
your eyes
post jack-in-the-box
renewal,
demise

the inside-outside
dichotomous desire
to fulfill
(accompanied by the useless
mechanics of wanting
toask—
an assemble it yourself kit
missing one critical
washer).

A three
fights gravity.
Images spin and twist
your already flipped vision.

Appreciate the vaults of cohesion
and the way space intervenes.

* A counterweight outside the building.