Soil

and there is

only this

one task

in this time

of forgotten peace the

insane emperor's

tanks of war and heavy

machines for erecting mausoleums

have corrupted the forest torn

and charred the undergrowth

pressed hard upon the soil

and there is

only this

one fabric

trees drop

leaves for fodder

worms

mites

springtails

millipedes

beetles

chew

through

a civilization

of ants

tunnels

where light

cannot go so air

might seep

below to

sustain what

breathes beneath

a consciousness

of bees

pollinates

wild

flowers

mycorrhizal

fingers

reach

connecting

each to each

life often does

not know

or touch

another life

some never meet or speak

as they set about this mending

one bite or

push or winged flight

at a time

followed by

the next

resisting evil together