Man Barricades Against Himself

Why do flowers have such color and charm, The sky is blue: the woolly clouds march past Au revoir to the day. To memories of unconquered Problems and market struggles that avail us naught. We retire to rest and the stars shine and a moon Comes on more often to share our sleepless nights. The race is won, the best horse in majestic form? The deer fly past, the woods rejoice their grace? The green trees grudge not the shade they grant To one and all and ask them not who they are. We witness the throb of life, the Universe hums With a rhythm and energy that encircle the earth. In the lion’s mane, the zebra stripes and the dance Of the majestic peacock! Flamboyant with life: A vision, a fusion, of red, black and peacock blue! Why and how from the wet earth comes out grain. We haul out sea food in tons from deep oceans? And when the birds fly so high, who guides them To sources of food and leads them back to nests: No flight plan nor compass for help but the One Who holds them dear and saves them from hawks And predators thirsting for their flesh and blood. We need to think and think and wonder and find The answers to our questions all by ourselves. We have the world all to ourselves, free of cost We own everything on and above the earth, Abundant food and the water and milk to drink, And gold nuggets sprout from deep earth for us And the richest of diamonds and precious ores. They are there for you and me. So worry not. But sit back and inhale the cool breeze, the air The One has cleansed of toxic fumes and smoke And the bees bring you honey from flowers And heavenly perfumes and colors of Paradise. Man claims he makes all these and struts earth As though he bought them on his own bourse Or elsewhere from his hard earned cash or loot. He is paranoid: some day he might lose all these He has to defend against enemies unseen, unheard And he ends barricading against himself in despair.