Monkeys and a Millipede

Monkeys and a millipede — these are the chattering and quiet characters in Dan’s suggestive poem, “Earthworks.”
(Chattering or quiet . . . reminiscent of another species?)  When creating the video, I chose also to contrast
our pristine planet, as seen from space, with the scrambling life upon it.  And, yes, if you sense a resemblance,
my painting of the millipede in the transparent sphere was inspired by the haunting globe image in Bosch’s
Garden of Earthly Delights.
                                                                                                                                                  -- Suzanne

"Earthworks"      



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  Earthworks

Staring from the moon

in dream,

                I watched

small monkeys hopping

from close

         cavities: faster,

slower, dragging

         their thick brooms

         over dry

sands . . .

              but

in late evening

light,

        beyond their hunched

        & bickering                                                           

return

in one great

swarm, the planet

              now grown

         calm —

                     I saw

a single giant

millipede,

         shell vibrant

mustard/black,

              crawl out

from the moist

hollow

of its hidden

rock

              to sweep

        with silent feet

along the

moss

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                          “Earthworks” was published in the Winter 2009 issue of the Notre Dame Review.