The Sand Hill Review               http://www.sandhillreview.org 2007

Where Is The Green?

My heart is lonely for a tree,

a lawn that flows down green and gray

to a stony brook,

a meadow of grass and flowers

with deepening woods behind.

A place to walk

in solitary contemplation

of sights and sounds

obliterated by this urban noise

and polluted crowding.

Free from the roaring whoosh

of cars racing by,

motorcycles,

rock music cacophony,

loud voices,

outside after midnight.

Where is the cooing of the doves,

the chatter of the squirrels,

the lark's song floating

on a clean river breeze,

the rustle of fresh green leaves?

Oh to live outside of sardine cans,

these cardboard shoeboxes

we have to call home.

Even the howl of a mountain lion

in a backyard tree

would be better than this.

Carolyn Donnell