Photo Brian Federle: Desert Tree, Palm Springs, 2016
The winter tree
does not move.
Its wide trunk
plunges into graven earth,
unseen roots, grasping hands
feel deeply the living soil,
hold firm anchorage
against the coming storm,
but rising wood, thin
though strong enough
to paint slender lines,
trails into purer air,
gives shelter
to Christmas birds.
They hunch on stems, quietly
waiting to sing open
the dawn.
(12/23/2011)
(12/23/2011)
"waiting to sing open / the dawn." Nice line there, an apt description for all morning people.
ReplyDeleteRooted deep against the coming storm. A lot can be learned from the tree. Love the way this opens up.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, "they hunch on stems quietly, waiting to sing open the dawn". How incredibly lovely.
ReplyDeleteHope best thing to hold on to...................
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant verse. I love the the intellectual idea of the dawn chorus, but the reality drives me crazy.
ReplyDeleteNicely captured..like it :-)
ReplyDeleteclosing lines are great...
ReplyDeleteaha...the concluding lines are just too beautiful...a new dawn brings so much peace. Lovely...
ReplyDeletevery poignant, the last lines ring in hope
ReplyDelete