1
The tree is an arbiter that
aims to leave but lives to claim.
It runs the tab of a die-hard drinker,
aims to leave but lives to claim.
It runs the tab of a die-hard drinker,
stretching as it sinks; inflamed to the south
and slippered to the north it bears down,
bursts forth—quietly equipped for its own fires
and slippered to the north it bears down,
bursts forth—quietly equipped for its own fires
with its own dampers; by the years befriended but by quick of day
or season's sawing reasonably unhampered...
From the rock at its root it shoots
or season's sawing reasonably unhampered...
From the rock at its root it shoots
a stem of stars.
2
The animal, part dream, part
stream of fur, has swum in space and time,
stream of fur, has swum in space and time,
liquid and air; by sound and smell
appraising earth, he pours back
every moment he aims forth...
appraising earth, he pours back
every moment he aims forth...
From the pebble of his nose
through the flowing ears
go rivulets of fur,
to there design a spine
and flail a tail... What does he see, that makes him
through the flowing ears
go rivulets of fur,
to there design a spine
and flail a tail... What does he see, that makes him
swim so far into the future? Something
in a tree.
in a tree.
Heather McHugh's new book, Upgraded to Serious, comes out this week from Copper Canyon Press. She won a Stranger Genius Award in 2007 and a MacArthur last week.
