The algebra of need

Those early morning chirruped melodies
   that are heard through the darkness
on the verge of a new day
   passionate and comforting expression
of the vitality of all that is natural
   the earth going about its business
daffodils thrusting through the grass
   beauty that flares in the delicate
candid blossom on our streets
   prattling pigeons on rooftops
engaged in their courtly rituals
   a kissing two-step back and forth
or as one circles the other
   preening and prancing
head erect and proudly purposed
   with the survival of the species
: song is sex – did anyone ever doubt
   or that we are all here to dance
and to make merry
   to create from lust
love’s immortality ?

In awe we gaze at the stars
  at the vast empty wilderness of space
and yet we are bound to such local cycles
   driven by the temperamental tides
of the sun and moon —our humours
   and all our dreams and expectations
all but determined by their alignments
   Vessels of self-inflicted ambition
we struggle through the wastes
   of the world’s sorrow
too often oblivious to the simple
   subtle architectures of love
and the unruly mathematics of desire

John Lyons