Three Poems

"Today I have grown taller from walking with the trees."
-Karle Wilson Baker
(1878-1960) U.S. poet

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A poem about the stars
Written at midnight
With no lights on.

Oak tree has caught
stars in her arms,
gathering them
like diamond chips
in the hem
of an evening gown.
She weaves them
into her branches
with practiced ease,
and her fingers point to
the moon as it
illuminates her
handiwork.

**************

It was snowing by two.
The pale, nervous flakes
fluttering down like the
insides of a feather pillow.
A sheet of grey cloud
shuddered across the sky,
and bare tree branches
trembled at the coming of snow.

********************************

One day the leaves grew restless—
They murmured and shivered and hung.
They naturally,finally,decided to fly,
And silently cheered as their bodies were flung.
They fell with a whispering crash below—
They were colorful, lively, and free.
They rustled and swirled as they tickled the street,
And danced through the wind with glee.

Oak Tree

There is an oak tree
in our yard.
Forgive her.
She likes making
poetic appearances.

odd poetry written on a cold afternoon

Anatomy of a Tree

I have lived
50 times over
I am old and young and free
I take what I need
And I give it back
For I am more
Than eye can see
I dance to the wind
I dance to the rain
I bow to the stars
And snow
I wreath myself in color that
Is meaningless to me
By the day-hour
I rise
I spread my ‘wings’
And
Try to fly
I kiss the earth
I kiss the sun
And then I fall
And then I die.

ML
11/27/05