the difference between here and there

here and there

the difference between here and there is geographical. it is the frigid, yet sensual liquid black depths, a flowing obsidian of the mysterious Atlantic. it is the wild-eyed azure blue, sharp tongued and crazed, a youthful beauty laughing in the face of her name: Pacific. it is limestone slick and the mating of rocks in the beds of rivers. it is incandescant orange and red magma flowing like nature's placenta. it is thousand year old pines and red, orange, crimson, yellow, bronze ballgown adorned mables and oaks in the fall. it is the spunky spikes of the ohia lehua and cresant headress of the mighty koa. it is the sloping backs of green hills snuggled by meandering streams. it is a white dome followed by lush bush and finally the tickle of waves on black and white sand toes. it is blizzarding snow. it is salt spitting sea foam.

the difference between here and there is cultural. it is crossing the street without acknowledging the stopped traffick. it is calling everyone, regardless of blood ties, aunty and uncle. it is a handshake and a smile. it is a kiss on the cheek. it is wearing your shoes both inside and outside. it is hardly wearing shoes. it is "and that is because". it is "howzit cuz?" it is asking outright. it is asking in the right way. it is flowers in vases and it is flowers beside faces. it is flip-flops. it is slippahs. it is up there. it is over here.

the difference between here and there is political. it is the "greater 48". it is the 5oth state. it is swing states. it is out in the wings state. it is big and it is small.

the difference between here and there can be calculated in miles and time zones, in years and dollar signs, in who was once and who is now. the difference between here and there can be measured mathmatically or figured out as a substraction of one from the other. the difference is great in a moment. over time, however, over human action, over cultural integrations, it is not so great. the difference between what happened and what is happening here and there is but a step away. from maine to hawaii, the problems are similar. why, then, do we let ourselves buy into physical distance as an accurate marker for our distance from the nation's problems? it is frustrating.

to be continued...