Blandeur

by Kay Ryan

If it please God,

let less happen.

Even out Earth’s

rondure, flatten

Eiger, blanden

the Grand Canyon.

Make valleys

slightly higher,

widen fissures

to arable land,

remand your

terrible glaciers

and silence

their calving,

halving or doubling

all geographical features

toward the mean.

Unlean against our hearts.

Withdraw your grandeur

from these parts.

From Say Uncle, Grove/Atlantic, Inc. 2000, page 10.