Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Trees


Heaven knows how many
trees I climbed when my body
was still in the climbing way, how

many afternoons, especially
windy ones, I sat
perched on a limb that

rose and fell with every invisible
blow, Each tree was
a green ship in the wind-waves, every

branch a mast, every leafy height
a happiness that came without
even trying.  I was that alive

and limber.  Now I walk under them -
cool, beloved:  the household
of such tall, kind sisters.




Mary Oliver