An embarrassment of riches is nonexistent when the wealthiest soil’s only devotion is ego. The conquering forefathers established the motto Every land for itself. But making it rain is equally beneficial for both the rainmaker and recipient; there’s satisfaction in giving back what one stole. Crops flourish best when spoken to nicely and under an honest watch. Don’t ya’ know there’s no such thing as killing ‘em with kindness if you’ve already murdered in the name of proclaiming a new colony? A good leader knows any massacre committed in order to raise a new flag comes with casualties. Regardless of how great the sunflowers are coming in, slender necks stretching for nutrients of sky, petals glowing like dazzling bonnets framing the most beautiful of faces, sometimes you just gotta’ drop a bomb on a city and call it a day.
“THERE’S NO THROUGH TRAIL” —HAN-SHAN, TRANSLATED BY GARY SNYDER
About Daniel Romo
Daniel Romo is the author of Apologies in Reverse (FutureCycle Press 2019), When Kerosene’s Involved (Mojave River Press 2014), and Romancing Gravity (Silver Birch Press 2013). He has an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Queens University of Charlotte, and he is an Associate Poetry Editor at Backbone Press. He lives and teaches in Long Beach, CA. More at danielromo.wordpress.com.
Cold Mountain Review is published once a year in the Department of English at Appalachian State University. Support from Appalachian’s Office of Academic Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences enables CMR’s learning and publications program. The views and opinions expressed in CMR do not necessarily reflect those of university trustees, administration, faculty, students, or staff.