The plane of existence is not
an unbroken plain–rather, a complex
geography with ever-changing views:
now an expansive vista & joy
now a slot canyon under shard
of sky & pain or wonder. We wander
& shift perspectives. Pain is a reminder
calling us to make peace with the past,
to tend to ourselves & mind the present.
Here it is time for the lawn service,
& earnest young people work mowers
& leaf blowers toward me. Time, too,
is a minder–fall is approaching.
Andrew Shattuck McBride
**
“Plane of Existence” is my August 21st poem for the postcard poetry project. I used an antique card view of three perspectives of “Mount St. Helens, Washington.” I mailed it to Suanna of Abilene, Texas.
Blessings to Suanna and all, Andy
Andrew Shattuck McBride, Writer's Blog 
So lovely, Andy–I sure like all the long “a” sounds, as well as the multiple interweavings of sounds, words, and ideas. And wisdom: “Pain is a reminder / to make peace with the past, / to tend to ourselves and mind the present.”
Fall certainly is in the air here this morning!
Jennifer, thank you so much!
My starting point was the Jan/Feb 2012 issue of The American Poetry Review you loaned me. In Frederick Smock’s article “A Lost Classic: David Shapiro’s Lateness” I found Shapiro’s line “This is your life pushing against unbreakable panes.” It’s from “The Devil’s Trill Sonata.” That line was my inspiration.
Ah, yes: pain. We should also stock aspirin (and Scotch).
Thank you so much for the loan, too! Sincerely, Andy
P.S. Yaayyy, fall!