can fish do math?

Greetings, poetry people. I have awoken—Pisces will out—with no intention for today’s poem/post whatsoever (except to get clear about time differences between Brighton, MoCo/NYC and Portland; this is the only actual math I’ve been doing). So you are getting a “kitchen-sink” poem, as in I am kit-and-caboodling a bunch of bits from my last 24 hours into an artwork made of words. I hope it’s beautiful, or at least interesting.

This kitchen sink owes a lot to this gripping @yujins.chalkdust Instagram post, which is nature+philosophy+math+beauty, and, if you ask me, religion in its purest original form*** of the ligaments between us and all beings. Which, if you ask me, is the best reason to protect, however we can, the home of all beings, this Earth. Which I must mention because it is the 3rd Friday here at mjlu, traditionally Climate Friday.

Currently in Montgomery County, MD, the smoke from Canadian wildfires has arrived and the air quality is officially “VERY UNHEALTHY,” which may be why my poem is spending most of its time underwater. Sometimes the ostrich just needs to hide her head in the sand, tending her eggs.

Thanks to Jill Dailey for rounding up Poetry Friday today with a “Fold a Zine” video—how fun! Maybe I’ll make one for this poem…see you in the comments, friends!

***However, popular etymology among the later ancients (Servius, Lactantius, Augustine) and the interpretation of many modern writers connects it with religare "to bind fast" (see rely), via the notion of "place an obligation on," or "bond between humans and gods." In that case, the re- would be intensive.
—from https://www.etymonline.com/word/religio-

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