Jeanne Allison
When Trees Reach Tall Into the Sky
As I move closer down the path, I can see
the leaves stretched long from a triad of branches
as if holding a platter the way a waiter
does but without the clatter and where,
if you look closely, this hand holds all belief
between the sky and earth, and with a hint
of longing amongst the forest chatter
and butterflies' orangish yellow swishing,
with my purpose forgotten, I wish only to perceive
the boldness of the claim, desire arising
from the ground itself. I halt a spell to feel the dance
of birds and monarchs in wild dependent chance
and know we struggle strong in our intrusion
and, muddled by complacency, the stillness.
Bio
Jeanne Allison lives and teaches in St. Louis, Missouri. Her work has appeared in the Write Launch, Skylight47 (an Irish literary journal), Light: A Journal of Photography & Poetry, Under the Basho, Liminal Women Anthology, Examined Life Journal, the and Haiku Path in the Holmes County Open Air Art Museum.