Reality treed.

Go ahead with your square-eyed glassy glare.

Your lines of power.

Cut off at the knees, you think I am gone.

Still there despite orchestrated efforts to force oblivion. ©

Yet, clearly something of me remains.

Essence not scrubbed.

No matter how hard the scullery-made tries.

No matter the attempts by The Machine.

Some stains never fade. Some meanings linger.

Even when viewed years later. In different light. There.©

There to be seen

As a warning.

As a promise.

Do as you will, but nothing gold can stay. Including purse loads tossed to influence: fodder for sheep.

Nature’s first green is gold
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.  (Robert Frost)

Only a shadow?

If you wish.

But still there. No matter.

Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.

Big picture. Down the road, things change: plans, mice and men. ©