Welcome to Sentience – A response

Melissa Gutierrez

Welcome to Sentience—A response

No one grumbles among the oyster clans,
And lobsters play their bone guitars all summer.
Only we, with our opposable thumbs, want
Heaven to be, and God to come, again.
There is no end to our grumbling; we want
Comfortable earth and sumptuous Heaven.
But the heron standing on one leg in the bog
Drinks his dark rum all day, and is content.
–Robert Bly
“Wanting Sumptuous Heavens”

Real oysters don’t sparkle when they mute around,
Lobster guitars never sang Santana,

Only our opposable thumbs make button mashing controllers and navigation of enjambments
Through winding, zombied hallways. High score!

We want Heaven to be –ish, and God to pay a visit sure.
We want comforters on Earth and sumpting of Heaven. Want chocolate. Want what’s been promised.

But the heron bogged down in a balancing act, drinking pirate rum all day can’t
Want
A mojito for a change.