04-08-2021, 06:34 AM
[No luck posting photo; I'll try tomorrow.]
Lament of the Leaning Trees
We were planted to stand, not to sprawl in this way
by the larger of lakes in the park,
to stare straight at the sky through the night and the day,
not to ogle our own shades of bark.
But the lake has swelled swampily over the years,
seizing soil in her cool clammy clench,
with a treasure of twigs and grass, sweet chestnut spheres,
and a hoard of hard wood, once a bench.
How we cling to the earth with our tendrilous toes,
while the lake laps in sinister sheen,
rousing daily and nightly our powerless throes
as we lean, and we lean, and we lean.
Lament of the Leaning Trees
We were planted to stand, not to sprawl in this way
by the larger of lakes in the park,
to stare straight at the sky through the night and the day,
not to ogle our own shades of bark.
But the lake has swelled swampily over the years,
seizing soil in her cool clammy clench,
with a treasure of twigs and grass, sweet chestnut spheres,
and a hoard of hard wood, once a bench.
How we cling to the earth with our tendrilous toes,
while the lake laps in sinister sheen,
rousing daily and nightly our powerless throes
as we lean, and we lean, and we lean.