" Bearing Witness "..

" Bearing Witness "

by Suzán Jiván Mom & Mom-Mom Suzán

Bearing witness:victim or villainous
attractively cinched and primped
staring out windows
while inviting sympathy
for taxidermied beasts
once posing irrepressible energy

deep beneath ocean floors
meticulously recording failing coral
due to rapid warming
while weary dive teams
appear to be superficially lovely
through thickening bubbly intrigue

barraged by murky improbabilities
large and small bodies
unintendedly wished upon
as macabre backdrops for former four stars

free from scavenging
while floating over glowing oceans
coral growing below
cloaked in glorious moments
clad in clownish clothing
while hanging over bobbing boats
far off the coast

observed whales and fish
as informal folks
not unlike dormice or lions
seen side-by-side
throughout our entire lifetimes

perceiving silver bells and cockle shells
as pretty little maids all in a row
upper and lower opening and closing molluscs
straightforwardly deemed love notes

though not always sung in unison
season throughout season
attempting to out sing one another
as territorial functions
of both lover and beloved
echoing endless duets...