There’s no cow on the ice

                                                                                        From Swedish: 

                                                                                        Idiom: Det är ingen ko på isen 

                                                                                        Literal translation: 

                                                                                        “There’s no cow on the ice.” 

                                                                                        A.K.A: “No need to worry.” 

But perhaps there is a cow slipping and sliding, falling on her back, 

in need of milking. A cow with calves and a farmer who depends

on her milk for cheese that he sells in the nearby market to feed 

his extended family. A cheese with a hint of mountain wind and late 

afternoon sun and what if the cow is on its back with its hooves kicking 

the moon off course and the stars become so dark Odysseus can’t find 

his way home. Then Homer won’t have his epic. Teachers won’t know 

what to teach their tenth-grade students who become bored and sullen. 

Wars will start. Unending wars where there are no parades or hats 

with balloons. Wars that leave the earth so scorched no grass will grow 

because someone shouted and others followed shouting louder 

there’s no cow on the ice.