I’ve been thinking, lately, about the ways in which the world carries us, and how little we seem to notice.
How she effortlessly bears the physical weight of us on our journey through the stars, and how — with considerably more effort — she bears the ecological weight of our ceaseless, careless activities. How she quietly holds us and provides for us, bearing our various burdens.
It reminds me of this poem I wrote a few months ago, after suddenly becoming aware of a scarred tree I’d never really noticed before, in our local park:
I Overheard the Prayer of the Lovers’ Tree
If I must bear the permanent scars of so many temporary affections, may but one of these carvings I hold in my flesh, of hearts and initials, be true. May I grow for a hundred years in the sun, and long be outlived by love. And may my roots be strong and reach deep in the dark, so I may bear more than shade alone in this park.
If you’d like to share this poem somewhere, here’s an image for you:
Thanks for reading,
~ A
If you enjoyed this poem, please like, share, comment, and/or subscribe, all of which help promote my work:
Or, for just $1, you can always:
I love the perspective here. It makes me smile because I imagine a kind of grumpy old tree passing judgement on the couples who come to carve their names, like, "Oh, please! I give you a week!" And then along comes that perfect couple and the tree just sighs. Thanks for this.
My favorite stanza:
May I grow for a hundred
years in the sun,
and long be outlived by love.
So much is said in so few words: The implication of some love beyond time. It's great!