Change

Strange
how quickly
things can change.
One day there's this sign
silhouetted against dark clouds
and a few days later,
the sign is
​gone.

Dartmouth
College recently
announced that it was
permanently closing its golf
course. It's a common destination
for walking and since COVID
it's been a go-to spot
for many.

The
rapid action
took me by surprise,
though. The benches & the
platforms on which they rested
were gone just a few days after the
announcement. It seemed
so sudden & sad.

I'm not
a golfer and I
hate the toxins that are
used to kill weeds, but endings
are hard, especially for those whose
livelihoods depend on
​the course.

But during
the past few days,
Calvin and I have visited the
course frequently, noticing changes 
more subtle than a missing
bench or sign.

Grass
grows on the
paths & in the sand
traps, slowly reclaiming
the land.

Like
soldiers,
the Milkweed
march into the lawn
and stake their claim. Soon
wildflowers will do
the same.

Like
so many
transitions, the
losses for some are
benefits for others. Trade-
offs abound right
now and I am
​curious.

First,
I am curious
about how quickly
the college was able to
dismantle the structures on the
course. Is that kind of rapid adaptation
something we are all capable of
​if given clear direction
and leadership?

Second,
I am curious
about the process
of land reclaiming itself.
How long will it take and what
will it feel like? It is strange to know
that this grass will never be so
short again & that the
green layers will
disappear.

What
will it be like
when the only mowed
path follows this dotted white
line & is surrounded by tall
grass, wildflowers
​and crickets?