Arboreal

Arboreal

In this space, there could be
any of infinity creatures,

including nothing, which
actually means oxygen,

dirt, pollen, light. Instead,
this pine, fuzzed green along

the bark, mossy as a sloth.
In every life, an exchange,

we get more of one thing
only for less of another,

slowness and focus here
in the forest, elsewhere,

fire and hunger. You were
one second old once, for

only one second, Happy
Moment You Were Born,

each one is a step away
from the world-before-you

and toward the world-you-
helped-make. Happy birthday

to you, the song rolls through
these pines like steady rain.