The Next Neighborhood Over<\/p>\n
By<\/p>\n
Radiance Angelina Petro<\/p>\n
Trying to follow the sound<\/p>\n Of the cicadas is what it\u2019s like<\/p>\n Trying to follow the sound<\/p>\n Of god.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cicadas throw their voices<\/p>\n And you can think one<\/p>\n Is right up in that tree over there,<\/p>\n When, in fact, it is actually<\/p>\n In a tree in the next neighborhood over.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Trying to trace the sound<\/p>\n Of god one finds oneself<\/p>\n Tracing figures in the air,<\/p>\n Or wishes on the shore.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Listening to the sound<\/p>\n Of god is much easier<\/p>\n Than asking the source<\/p>\n Of that sound questions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When the cicada stops singing<\/p>\n And falls unseen<\/p>\n From its branch high up<\/p>\n In the tree, the silence<\/p>\n Signals us that change is here\u2014<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We realize waiting for answers<\/p>\n Is foolish and a waste–<\/p>\n Autumn is coming.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So we had better be prepared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When we notice<\/p>\n There is no singing in the trees,<\/p>\n When we realize we have forgotten<\/p>\n Entirely about the sound\u2014<\/p>\n We know winter is here.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And if we don\u2019t do something<\/p>\n Outlandish and daring<\/p>\n In order to try making the sound<\/p>\n Ourselves,<\/p>\n Our ears will freeze over with regret,<\/p>\n Our hearts will harden from lack of use.<\/p>\n And our dreams\u2014the ones<\/p>\n We used to use as compasses<\/p>\n To follow the sound<\/p>\n Of god, will be carried away, like<\/p>\n The shell of a cicada,<\/p>\n Like the shell of a sound,<\/p>\n Like the shell of a god<\/p>\n That used to play<\/p>\n Hide and seek with us<\/p>\n From the next neighborhood over.<\/p>\n
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