by Ian Stephen

The sun is hitting out
from under the northerly

so a pale boat bobs
a tad more bright

than the white horses
on the bight

but they’re ‘white rabbits’
to my pal Saki.

Clouds close ranks
as we make the turn

to shoot
the funnel of the Strath.

The direction of sleet
is always at you.

A first line of hills
is smudged.

There’s nothing but
precipitation

then mitigation
in greys.

That Whistler should have got his arse
up this railroad.

by Ian Stephen

Lewisian gneiss was edged, down–ocean.
Durness rocks continue at St John’s.
Our islands haven’t shifted for a while

but our orientation
changes from year to year,
like compass variation.

We’ve got history from before Bannockburn —
navigators in boats of skin,
architects of chambered cairns.

The stepping stones are skewed.
We sail from Tamnavay by Skara Brae.
A course to Muckle Flugga, Faroe, Westmann.

Subsistence skills are still good
for new livelihoods
from the recreation of others.

Our dyes dare deep to saturation.
We tether visitors to cliffs or
bounce them out to archipelagos.

Our future is
dependable as damp
irregular as waves.

Like our shuttles,
our multiplaited lines,
partly in our own palms.

by Pamela Twining

every morning I listen to the awakening earth
more musical now
since all the world is caged inside
            and all the streets abandoned
                        like an apocalypse movie
Ready to deteriorate
as economies and buildings collapse around them
told to Stay Inside at All Cost
Nothing is more important than Separation
how are the People to make their Wish
(not Wishes there’s only One . . . Equal Justice)
            not only Known but Acted On
                        in the Long Run
                                    when Separation is Mandated
a Revolution IS necessary
and hoping there’s no Violence is
I fear
quixotic
not the right word but idealistic isn’t either
naïve? gullible?

No One could believe
that such Great eructions eruptions destructions
            dissolutions resolutions disruptions erections
            Will Be achieved without Pushback
            sometimes Ferocious
            usually meaning bloodshed

there is No Meekness in a Demand for Justice
it is said that the Meek would Inherit the earth
            in What Universe?
do Systems evolve or are they re–formed
from the smashed and broken shards of past mistakes
cobbled together
fit or no
from lack of political imagination
            Fear
the Japanese paint reconstituted cracks
of shattered pottery w Gold
to illustrate the Random Beauty
of destruction and rebirth
—
Americans think that once the Pres is Elected
their job is Over
the Pres can Do It All
            the People have to Make the Pres
                        do what they want
                                    mere election is Not Enough
the Movement must be continued
the Fight has to go on
and it takes the People
to enForce their Desires into Law
as FDR said Make Me!
            Whatever you Want, Make Me!

keep up the pressure People!
election results are just a Snapshot
no one of Substance
            no Conspicuous Consumer
would take seriously a Polaroid of peoples’ Lives
a Snap of Time
adulterated anew
            by propaganda

the People can be herded like sheep
w the Dogs of HateAndTerror
            nipping at their heels to keep em rounded up
                        in Order
we celebrate Togetherness but it can be used Against US

easier to herd a Crowd
than discrete dots & blips
a person here a person there
            the Key is to know when to mass
                        and when to scatter

by Andy Clausen

Is it true a huge swath of India will be
        too hot to inhabit? where hundreds
        of millions now live?
Will the land cook?
Where will this massive swelter move to?
A huge cauldron of people cultured to live
        their unique manner & outlook
Where will they go?
Is it true Greenland is sweating out millions
        of tons of itself into the Rising
        of the Great Thaw?
Is it true Venice might be submerged
New Orleans too?
Will many islands disappear?
How about Manhattan?
As fit water is rarefied and the profit motive
        derives policy & law & commands
        enforcement
So the Big Boy wealth will have just cause
        for war as their preferred solution to scarcity
& over population & climate change
Mutated seeds have replaced the Buffalo
The Pacific Ocean is radioactive
Baby Godzillas everywhere
Cameras inside cameras
Every busy corner televised
Yes or No decisions faster than sound