Pitching Nature

POETRY

by Megan Willburn

Take the forest:
            Imagine it
                        But a bit more – reflective
            Call it; windows and mirrors, the new kind of doorway
                        Oh yes,
            Call it; Romantic – Wordsworth and them, the Romantics:
                        A kaleidoscope to better see things, like iridescent trash bags,
                        Like last night’s dinner in tin foil hats, like aliens
                        Like build an ant hill out of pop bottles, like animalian
                        Like anamaliens, make it theme park ride

Take the desert:
            Never liked it sand-style, too hot,
            Now it’s; canopies of sun repellant, make it smog
                        Make it bottled cans of ozone,
                        Make it atmosphere by the can, heaven in a breath
            Call it; a new crust, sell it like pizza, Chicago-style and deep dish
                        Orange peels and chemicals, a new rind, grind it in
                        Sell boots at the door,
            Call it; getting in on the ground floor

Take the ocean:
            Salt water and fresh mesh, less stress at Unswimmable Express,
            Call it; get a touch down slipstream, less blood, more scream of conscience
            Call it; a ghost tour of the under-deep, where flesh and metal merge
                        Swim on, scarred and breached
            Call it; camp, call it carrion, call it acrid and archetypal
            Call it; man meets fish and make it mer-style
                        Mermaid in flippers (whatever’s left after we take what sells)
                                    Call it ecologically friendly – yeah friendly –
                                                                       but smile,
                                                                       and make sure they see
                                                                       all six rows of your teeth