i am struck   and wonder

why does the world have to be beautiful

the sky so blue

the leaves so green

the beetle so emerald

the luna moth so other-worldly

why is my breath taken so easily by the pragmatic

the reason for color i understand

the bee is attracted to the flower for sustenance

the flower attracts the bee for procreation

life needs color and beauty to continue

but does it really

are we   all creatures   not adaptive

would a world of grays not find a way to carry on

i love the blue sky   the white clouds   the myriad greens

the live-oak hills   the sunsets over the pacific

i've written of them again and again   

but not   until now   pondered the why of it   the why of beauty

without the critical eye of aristotle   his categories or his forbearer

what is is   after all   though what we make of it

is a matter of who we are   or who we perceive ourselves to be