Seeds
Can we count the branches of the tree
from the oak's catkin?
The needles on branches
from the pine cone?
How can we tell how well
it will winter? What burden of snow it will
shed? What summer's heat will wilt
and burn--all from a seed?
And from this one, how many others?
Can we know whether from this one
a whole forest springs
or the sampling fails?
[073010-3//082007]
Refreshing, to see a poem in the interrogative mood! Theodore Roethke was a great one for asking (often unanswerable) questions in his poems (e.g., "How high is have?"). And of course, there are the questions that God asks Job, "Hast thou entered the treasure-house of the snow?" etc. Poets should ask questions more often!
ReplyDeleteDear Dylan,
ReplyDeleteOnce again you are too kind to take the time to comment. I really appreciate it. And I agreed with you--particularly with the Roethke, but also with others. The interrogative mood is a complex place for a poet to be--and therefore, perfect.
shalom,
Steven