VI.
let this surprising wind bend me
may it strip a few leaves and
crack finger-sized wood
but leave me this trunk
and these roots
i am not done with them yet
we have more suns to reach for,
more earth to hold
XXVI.
when i was young i was on fire
i burned through days and nights
singeing the edges of rooms and
fingers of those who touched me
i lit the ground in front of me
with a flame that left the
distance dark
now i feel the quench of stillness,
hear silvery trickles slowly
soothing glowing crackles
i lie back, arms outstretched
to float in cool June water
listen to the wind lightly tickle
newly green leaves and notice
the absence of pain