April 8, 2024

eeriness of a sudden chill

birds fluttering, darting to nests

bats lifting from inverted sleep

giraffes shifting to shelter their young

horses meandering, sure only in line

with others, also restless and uncertain

dogs whimpering, cowering

or crawling to be near awed masters

standing, arms raised, intent upon

the midnight sky barely past noon

with blotted sun exposing only odd

ring of blue- or gold-white coronet

lasting minutes between diamond

and diamond

rare, beautiful, strange

gift for a lifetime shared with so many

experiencing as never before

their common, frail humanity

acknowledging the vastness of reality

b-t-c claims credit for the eclipse

modestly publicly assuming

that his latest fundraising triumph

is cause for today’s shadow play

of how he will overwhelm his opponent

Bluffo the clown omitted mention

of how it will also shade out

courtroom battles and his use

of campaign funds to pay his legal fees

but many smaller would-be-donors

already know that to be fact

                                         —poor Bluffo