Life of the Grasshopper

Life of the Grasshopper The birds are flying south for winter The chipmunks have squirreled away a stash The ants have slaved all summer to survive But another season still holds death The grasshopper has no pretenses It lives its days But lives in the moment Then dies Just like everything else The grasshopper had a lot of life in its year The bird, the chipmunk, and the ant all had a lot of years in their life All used up working to delay the inevitable Looking, but never seeing a silent, still moment A dandelion trying to catch the wind A ripple racing on a stream A cloud cartwheeling across the sky A forest reaching for the sun Perfection They’re too busy to find peace Holding too tight to find release Mocking the grasshopper’s wisdom Resenting it for its life of freedom And its peace with death