Fundamental Measurements

today I will weigh the wide blue sky
measure it in baby sparrows' breaths

the clouds will be calibrated
in heartbeats of the cream-grey gulls

I will calculate the age of the folded hills
as a tally of old men's final faltering dreams

five-bar-gates are the only correct way
to capture the fence's fierce compassion

and direct interrogation, yes-no answers only,
will lead me to understand the path's desires

and blade by blade I will enumerate
the happiness of the grassy meadow

only then, when all is properly accounted for,
will we be unfettered from the tyranny of numbers