Dale Smith

What the Tree Said Lifted

for Devin Johnston

Small grey light.

Taking dictation from leaves

wet in the drip.

Winds southeast.

What the tree said lifted

my head. My son

was sleeping.

·

Said the clay:

it's warm tho damp.

Said the tree:

grow into your roots.

Said the goose grass:

stick to it.

Said the fence line:

the border is here.

·

The leaves speak

like you do. Here,

then not, walking

a silver path.

·

There's a dead pigeon

rotting in damp grass

by a phone pole.

Red Radio Flyer

collects morning drizzle.

·

Automatic

notation:

just get it

down.

And let it go

away again.

·

Blond twigs lie in black mulch.

Hear an airplane in descent.

Walk with words

to listen.

·

Here are morning

images: ash trays,

chairs. Smooth surfaces

and flower pots.

Electric wires pass

under willow leaves.

The monkey oolong

steam lifts off the cup.

Surprised to find a child

in the neighbor's garden.

In between the day,

coming up to air.

·

Said the shovel:

get it out.

Said the rain:

wash it off.

Said the brain:

adjust the meat.

·

Cold pumpkin sits

in sunshine and moving

banana leaf shade.

Cold pumpkin keeps

the earth square

against the sky.

Cold pumpkin, come

here and kiss me!

·

Ordered stout and whisky.

Slid a dollar in the jukebox.

Came Waylon Jennings.

Johnny Cash.

Hole.

A young woman leaned

into a game machine.

Angel statue

in the garden.

Mourn through stone

grown cold by blue

norther coming down.

·

And Buddha's jolly smile

lifts against salvia and

mountain pea. His breasts

would jiggle

but he's only stone.

And then they do.

And I'm laughing.

My son plays with gold-

fish in the pond.

·

Cardinals in the brush

flit in the leaves.

Hey, birds, wait

for me!

·

So long old year.

Sow new ears.

Seeds and leaves.

Seeds and leaves.

Hear the new year.

Ring it cheerfully

then beat it.

Said the stump:

spread the word.

Said the wind:

get in.

Said the plastic trash:

like this.

Said the moon:

glow golden.

Said the sun:

run!