for Mary Oliver

You must go for a little walk
and look at the ocean
Hear the rush of the waves as they
crash in and draw back out
indifferent to our comings and goings
but not dissimilar
Remember that you are small
and also big
but you are only anything in relation
to everything else
If you are not near an ocean
a river might do
or at a stretch, a lake
We pass two Canadian geese
on a bus in Seattle
They are bigger than I expect
but only in relation to the world
They are not wild to themselves
They know nothing about
prostrating oneself
before a body of water
have never felt the edges
of somebody else's heartbreak
as they walk away
I think all this later, of course
after I have gotten off the bus and
gone to that bar
and Jordan has read his poem
and the warmth of wine and love both
have flown around the room
and nested in my chest
At the time they flash past
the window and all I think is
geese!