You humans do good math

You humans do good math

(said the Mountain)

always calculating value

adding to your sum totals

increasing your margins

subtracting your losses

ensuring a healthy bottom line,

all while waving the camouflaged banners

of “hard work” and “fairness”

as your justification.

You are still too young 

to comprehend the universe’s justice

(said the Mountain,

the Wind whispering her agreement through the trees)

Do you see my cracks and ridges?

How many millions of years

of trembling earthquakes

do you think I’ve endured 

for these?

For how many seasons

do you estimate

Lightning has scorched my pines

Rain has drained me of my brown blood

furry creatures have feasted from my caches

winged ones have skimmed from my canopies?

How much wealth

do you appraise

your own brothers have violated me and my brothers for

without permission

raiding my jeweled veins?

And yet still I stand here

(said the Mountain)

old, worn, humble

available 

to feed your souls

whenever you decide to remember

our kinship.

But you pale humans

prefer to do math

calculate your imaginary values

and complain

that your $20 massage

was 15 minutes too short.

You should get five back

Or maybe

you should leave the counting

to the Stars.