John Tustin

Disturb the Air

The fly may not move
from his place on the wall
unless you shake the foundation
or disturb the air.

The pest will only move along
if you become the irritation.
Irritation is the same word
used to describe
turning a shell fragment into a pearl.

Nothing and no one
will wait for you
to throttle the fruit from the tree.

Make the phone call
that could bring her to tears.
Get in your car
and confront the clouds before the sun.
Disturb the air
and make something move.

It’s going to rain soon.
It’s always just about to rain
and thunder—
the gods shaking their own foundations
just for the act of doing.

So,
go ahead—
shake the foundation,
disturb the air.
Irritate something.