Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Trees...within a shell...


Trees





within a shell as weary and wizened as yours

as streaked with the rain's tears

split by the coming and going of

summer and winter

gouged by the ravages of insect

and illness

my heartwood expands

each ring a story

each layer a weight

that roots me more firmly

to this spot

 

no longer bearing fruit

but rather tidings

admonishments

which is what old things do

I stand much as you

biding what time is left me

fade into a landscape

of new things new dreams

and whatever else

a new generation reaches for

 

that has nothing to do with stars

or sunlight or moons

etched with the shadows of branches

and leaves that burst forth in spring

singing a green song

a song without words

that I play

over and over again

even in sleep