To and From,
by Odin Roark

How simple the law:
running to requires
running from.

Yet…

How complex we make the movement.
defending our risk ahead,
without crediting the threat behind.

Does the surfer run from
or toward other waves?

Is the shore line the goal,
or the leaving behind of disaster?

And what of nature?

Does December race toward April
to leave behind the fallen leaves?
Or is the spring running away from itself
knowing gentle warmth
soon foreshadows summer heat
destined to breeze through fall’s cool
and once more chill before its winter’s end.

Running to
requires
running from.

Still…

Like the wrinkles of an ocean wave,
how rewarding the delusion,
speeding away to reach a future,
forgetting we are perhaps running from the past,
that purposeful nudging,
provoking,
arousing of time’s innate yin and yang,
where ending’s are but beginnings again.