Shizukana utsukushi-sa (Quiet Beauty)

VINCENT HOSTAK

May 7, 2020

Applied to a garden or some such thing

it makes more sense:

Shizukana utsukushi-sa,

Quiet Beauty.

But the eyes of drones high above the city

are trained to consult only clamor.

So, when canals and river channels calmed of ferries

look like downstate rivulets;

sidewalks cleared of restless striders

compare to deer paths, less the groves;

taxi ways are taciturn;

bistros bereft of buyers

and coyotes crawl the office parks;

those eyes can only doubt

the earnestness of what they see:

Shizuana utsukushi-sa.

VINCENT HOSTAK is a poet, essayist, filmmaker, and podcaster.  A longtime resident of Austin, TX, he resides now in Colorado, a hog’s hair away from wilderness. His poetry may be found in the print journal Sonder Midwest (#5).  His podcast on refugee resettlement in America: https://anchor.fm/crossingsrefugees.  Writer's blog:  https://vincenthostakdigital.com/.