Past the Rivers (Instinct)

Look past the rivers carrying news to the sea

Past fields of cauliflower and barley and wheat

Through snake holes under loose dirt and fallen leaves

and there it lies enduring all of time

Wars fought civilizations overrun species extinct stars born

Through all the horrors of existentialism

Through all the marvels of gaping absence

It survives resilient as it’s ever been

or will be

It is the one religion of our universe

One followed by everyone and everything

Stones tumble down craters reciting its rituals

Suns and stars ceaselessly gather for nightly prayers

the moon their preacher

Entire passages reflect off the eyes of cornered beasts

until only fear remains

And if you look past it all

past the rivers the fields and the fallen leaves

You’ll find it there

or it’ll find you