Birch Dancing
by Carolyn Wolfe
It was Fall before I saw my tree dance
I had seen her in high Summer
leaves of green and shivering with abundance
I had seen her in Winter, branches bare
limbs heavy with snow
pierced with icicles
bending low under the weight of abandoned pleasures
a sight at night, baring her arms to the sky...
I have seen her in Spring,
new life, new leaves, breaking bad with terse abandon
but it was only in the Fall, under the hazy moonlight
that I saw her dance,
leaves golden,
branches raised
a hail to the sky
her rich and creamy color
blending with golden moonlight
I saw her hair of leaves, dancing, her arms moving
her body swaying
no wind
just wound up and carrying on
an old tradition
giving into the late night moves
of this most sacred time
the year passing...
The Loneliness of Trees
by Carolyn Wolfe
A tree is a creature of forest
it stands beside friend and foe
a community of leafed beings
old, young, saplings
each communing with each
a camaraderie of unheard voices
And when we transplant a tree
making space for it
alone in the yard
does it grieve?
does it remember ancient forests?
shared memories of tree knowledge?
does it reach out to share it's tree energy
with the beings encased in houses
compiled from dirt, granite and even old friends?
does it shiver in agony?
does it long to be heard?
And come Winter, does it weep when a fir tree
newly christened for Christmas
is carried down the sidewalk
to be brought into a house for celebration
and only in dying,
bring reverence to the dwelling?
What have we done?
Are we both head blind and deaf
to all beings but those born in human form?
Condemn the forests, the wild life, the brothers of feather and fur
and condemn ourselves
the trees cry out for friendship
Never knowing, that we have none to give.
and in this saddened state of being
are we lonelier than trees?
She
by Carolyn Wolfe
She faces the worst
with grace and strength
a role model to her children
dealing with practicalities
small every day errands
listening to others troubles
smiling
that smile of hers
that has always radiated
warmth
I realize now
that everything, everything, everything, is small
compared to her loving heart...
Bio: Carolyn Wolfe is a free lance writer, poet, and author of six books including her collections of poetry, short stories and bedtime stories for children. In May 2012 her sixth book, the illustrated children's book "The Unhappy Little Dragon, Lessons Learned" will be on a Virtual Book Tour, and featured on many children's author blogs, complete with interviews and reviews of her book which reveals the story of Happy, and unhappy little dragon, who, while trying to understand how to master his uncontrollable gift of fire, has an exciting adventure in the woods and discovers he is a very special dragon after all. Carolyn also hosts a poetry group, "The Downtown Poets of Winchester" a monthly meetup group that also does performances of their poetry throughout the area. Ms. Wolfe lives in the Shenandoah Valley with her Photographer, husband Scott, and her houseful of animal companions. For more information, please visit her website at: www.whenthemoonspeaks.com.
Gold
by Kim Hazelwood
The color of God is Gold.
Sun Glow,
Bright, bold
Watch us grow.
Listen to the threads of wheat,
Drumming a flaxen heartbeat.
We don't know why,
We feast on
The noon of a platinum sky.
The warmth,
The white, hot, yellow hue
Sunbathing What filters through:
Radiance,
The Sun-Chief,
You.
The color of God is Gold.
The L was added For Love.
Bio: Kim Hazelwood is the editor of this litzine and the author of CoyoteBat! She is working on a collection of poetry, at least.
