Can You Imagine?

Can you imagine?
For example, what the trees do
not only in lightening storms
or the watery dark of a summer's night
or under the white nets of winter
but now, and now, and now -- whenever
we're not looking.  Surely you can't imagine
they don't dance, from the root up, wishing
to travel a little, not cramped so much as wanting
a better view, or more sun, or just as avidly
more shade -- surely you can't imagine they just
stand there loving every
minute of it, the birds or the emptiness, the dark rings
of the years slowly and without a sound
thickening, and nothing different unless the wind,
and then only in its own mood, comes
to visit, surely you can't imagine
patience, and happiness, like that.

~Mary Oliver

To unwind with more poetry, visit Poetry Thursday and explore the Participants.

(Photo The Yew Tunnel by annicariad.)

Comments

[G]

"...imagine patience, and happiness, like that." Oliver knocks you over with a feather. Thanks for posting this poem.

[miriam]

What a great picture, does this really exist somewhere? Can you tell me more about it?

[Beverly]

I second the question about the photo. Took my breath away...and it's calling my name!
~Beverly