THE DISHES MUST BE WASHED

the dishes must be washed

though white cherry blossoms
are fragrant and enchanting
and alluring Spring
is sweetly coming

the dishes must be washed

though amazing things are happening
all around the world,
and the web lets us see
how events are progressing

the dishes must be washed

whether or not Van Gogh
was greater than Picasso,
or Schrodinger's cat is dead or alive,
or the universe is infinite,
and even though there's
a tiny chance a nuke
will hit us tommorow

the dishes must be washed

like "Candide's" garden
or zen wood and water,
they must be hauled
and muscled,
and carefully prepared
for future meals

for philosophy isn't possible
without soap bubbles and plates,
and no adventure occurs
without a clean fork
in the yellow-brick road