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Wednesday, March 4, 2009

And I have always been the redwood

In honor of my best poet-crush, Billy Collins, and inspired by his poem, Litany.


I am the scent of rain on asphalt
As well as that of horses at dusk
warmed from the streaming Summer light.

I am the knocking call of the raven
And the silver peep-toe stilettos
And some days
The glossy orange tea kettle as well.

I have never been candlelight at midnight
Or the first wind of November
I am not a red delicious apple
And while their first appearance tugs at my breath
I have never been the crocus.

I am the fruit stand on the long highway
The merry chiming of a palette knife on glass
The cherry blossoms piled like pink snow
in late April, confusing the seasons
And always
yes
Always have I been the redwood.


And what, my friends, are you?

9 comments:

candacemorris said...

this is so good!
i hope this made it to your sketch-journal.

i am the cry of my teapot.

(well, this morning at least).

UmberDove said...

But of course you are, and so so many other things as well.

And of course, this poem has been building in my sketch-journal for the last week or so.

BC said...

Lately, I am the Ass. HEEE HAWWWWW, HEEEE, HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

UmberDove said...

HAHAHAHA - I'm buying you the shirt!

Michele said...

I am the thorny rose bush

Genevieve said...

Oh, this is beautiful! I am the first dip in the ocean on a warm summer morning.

UmberDove said...

Genevieve, that's beautiful! I wish I could be that first dip, but I'm sure it is you.

Michele, I believe that you are. Beauty that is not easy nor always safe.

The Noisy Plume said...

I reckon, this morning, I am the tail of a squirrel.

Bushy but alluring:)

Lovely lovely words my dear old growth friend. AND. Just so you know. IT arrived.










You had me swooning all over the studio floor.

I've got to talk to you about it all.
LOVE love.

she said...

i am the pounding of a horse's hooves across a winter prairie.