Saturday, July 11, 2015

Jane Hirshfield: "Tree"




















It is foolish
to let a young redwood
grow next to a house.

Even in this
one lifetime,
you will have to choose.

That great calm being,
this clutter of soup pots and books—

Already the first branch-tips brush at the window.
Softly, calmly, immensity taps at your life.



"Tree" by Jane Hirshfield, from Given Sugar, Given Salt: Poems (HarperCollins, 2001).

Art credit: Photograph of a redwood leaf by NewLeafPics.

1 comment :

  1. That's splendid, thanks for the lovely piece. Reminds me of a tree by our own house, literal and well, less-so.

    ReplyDelete

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