There’s a place an Elder 
has mentioned but not
taken us to.

He simply nodded ahead and said,
“Men’s danceground at the end 
of that street—last dance recorded
in 1879.”

I went down there once, years ago,
in an attempt to feel my way
into the place.
It might also have been the dinner I ate,
but I remember throwing up at home
that night. By the next day 
I was fine.

Yesterday I rode past that area again,
as I have done several times
over the years.

I didn’t walk in this time,
but as I rode past,
one particular spot 
seemed to call out.

It seemed both the call of an old song
and the song of what the Earth has become.
It seemed very specific
to this particular place,
but also very specific
to the Earth as a whole,
and very specific
to the heart of 
the human being…
the place where I heard it.