your thin hands are those of a sparrow
poised to slump, defeated scarecrow
no caws or birdsongs can reach you
no grunts or hoots from small creatures
can meander near your shadow
the green and lavender hues in the faraway
distance hurts your eyes
wallowing you deeper in your wounds & woes
how you allowed it to fester, red & rot
can the wind make you swish & sway at all?
can the sun spark a seed of memories: lush
yellow green needles, pine cones and nuts?
sorrow seeps from every pore of your skin
oh the agony of being uncrowned leafless tree
bark beetle-bested, your inside is solid carcass
knees keeling
ribs reeling
tell me when you are ready for the
axe to fall
2006.5.180 © Georgia O’Keefe Museum
Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - Haunted, hosted by Melissa Lemay. Please join us when the pub doors open at 3pm EST.
