Written by Lillian Anderson 

Art by Lillian Anderson

the feeling of staring at a mountain or landscape
whether it be open stretching meadow
craggy rock face
blanched desert sprawl
northwest forest reaching
and finding comfort in unfocused gaze
like looking into the eyes of someone familiar
your grandmother, or friend 
with no effort to make yourself anything
but a pair of eyes, looking
easy resting place
blurring out
nature-intended big-picture zoning.

only to be snapped back by zooming glinting
metallic beasts,
or brand shiny new highrise.
staring then is like seeing
creepy new neighbor, or awkward coworker,
contorting mind and vision,
somersault