We Combed These

Surrounded by commercial
property and buffeted by
a colony of cord grass, 
the city's oldest trees,
and a tulip poplar. 

From oil to heavy metal, 
a prehistoric fixture, a scientist 
in a white coat said it was hot out  
whipped at his brow - suggested that 
we look there, - and pointed.

Tracking down leads,
a three thousand year old
chilean llareta
a bulbous desert growth 
would blend in just fine 
on the set of 1960s Star Trek.

Maxing credit cards, traveling continents 
ancient life, as we knew it, tenaciously hanging on.
tediously hangs on
tragically hangs on
planet's ultimate survivors,
I think 
I think?

But first, - after additional surveys,
genetic tests to measure age - 
we'll be able to confirm
whether any plants belong
to ancient organisms. 

Smell of effluent
strands 
high voltage wires
humm overhead.

Up the road, 
a gate and a sign: Private Property
Keep Out. 
"I've had a shot gun and a stick," he said.
A siren rang out.
We duck underneath 
and walk along the shoulder.

One of the ancient living things died since 
he photographed it - 
thirty five hundred year old outside
Orlando, Florida -
The original tourist attraction
predating Disney. 

Meth heads snuck into it to do meth, 
and the accidentally burned it down. 
One later saying, "Oh shit, we killed
something older than Jesus."
  
II.
 
A crane holding a house 
above a man crawling out of a cardboard box.
He looks like Abe Lincoln - hat
but otherwise, gruffly and hoarse. 
Patches about his suit jacket, and one on the crux of cheeks. 

He looks up - black simple dots.
I cannot see what his eyes are saying. 

III.

She has red hair and very pale skin
which can bruise easily; 
in the winter of 14'
she stood posing
with a rolled up bear
tuckered underneath one arm -
and weight resting slightly on her right hip joint.