Nonpartisan

I was thinking of things that are stable,

like the Ballinskelligs Bay tide table.

The ocean swells every twelve hours or so,

And ebbs halfway between those.

There, too, is the morning sunrise schedule.

Consistent it is, and ever so true.

The eastern sky delivered the sun yesterday

At exactly 8:10, and one minute prior today.

The water in the kettle for morning coffee

Boiled again at the same precise degree.

And the internal pressure for popcorn to flake

Was the same a year ago as it is today.

The earth rotates on cruise control

and steadily revolves around the sun’s pull.

Lough Currane remains within its shoreline

And the stars above retain their lane lines.

Yes, I was thinking of things that are stable,

Of a natural world so often predictable,

And I wondered to myself out loud—

Is it too much—

Is it too much to ask human

Leaders to exercise requisite caution

To lead within limitations

Short of chaotic extremes?