Girl-Warrior began to notice
She was different.
When asked a question, even a simple question
Maybe, about a pine tree in memory,
She could not respond in a straight line.
She might see a pine tree. Then a row of pine trees.
Then the history of pine trees,
Or from the point of view of a pine tree,
or the dream of a pine tree far from the earth and the sky
all upon being asked the question.
By then, she did not know how to respond.
She was lost in an eternity of pine trees.
Her instinct was to build in circles
When asked a question.
She might lose the beginning
And then the ending.
She might have the start of a painting
Or a poem
But no easy yes or no response.
From Warrior Poet by Joy Harjo (p. 22)
3 Comments
Girl Loner began to notice
ReplyDeleteShe was different.
When faced with darkness
She went outside, coatless and silent,
And climbed the roof of the shed
In the lower backyard
To lay down and look up:
The frontier of each oak tree crown
Touching the border of the next,
Curving lines of light
Changing form with the breeze,
A dancing border,
A message to the Girl:
You are ours.
You are one of us.
You will push through the hard earth,
Helping to warm it to life
Through the pulsing cells of your body.
You will rise up,
Like us. You will learn to dance
And, like us, wear a crown.
Like us
Even in the dark.
Even in the dark,
You will find us.
Sandy, what a beautiful poem! I love this intimate telling of a girl's connection with trees, how they speak to her in her times of darkness, how they reassure her. I hope children keep finding their own personal connection with nature.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Julie! I hope so, too. I was in love with our oak trees when I was a kid. They were beautiful white oaks that exuded strength and beauty. They were my friends.
ReplyDelete