Unfulfilled
Can a tree feel
unfulfilled. Is life
enough for it, meals
of light, carbon dioxide,
and rain. Don’t people
in love eat like this,
fluttery light of a candle,
small tabletop. A kiss
must be at least 2%
CO2. As trees grow up,
is there disappointment
or pride in how they adjust
to the land, how they reach
or how they handle fire.
Does each White Ash seek
the same stature as some admired,
perfect White Ash, the model
Ash for every Ash in the park.
Energy, and what else is bottled
in the trunk, buried under bark.
People as trees, trees as people, consciousness of trees being conscious of our consciousness. The question "Does each White Ash seek
ReplyDeletethe same stature as some admired, /
perfect White Ash?" is one to ponder.
I like the large perspective in this, how asking the questions about the trees encourages me to ask (again) the questions of myself, and to see things differently.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't sure about the title and the first sentence. Then I came to this, and all was well for the rest of the poem:
ReplyDeletemeals
of light, carbon dioxide,
and rain. Don’t people
in love eat like this,
fluttery light of a candle,
I'm not sure how that leads to the final couplet, but I still like it all.
love this - it makes our quest to be perfect specimens kind of silly.
ReplyDeleteand what do you think about trees? truly, what do you think? are they the things upon which we rely to not have consciousness (as though consciousness were the blemish) or are they like us, or are they superior in their consciousness? i wonder.
ReplyDeletehannah, every damn time i read you i am intent on reading good poetry and this is a very good thing, i think, but every time i read you go beyond any expectation. i finished this one and i thought, i love hannah. i am very glad you are in this world, seeing, paying attention and then reminding us to pay attention.
xo
erin
Perfection. Trees look like people doing handstands to me.
ReplyDelete