From Press Photos to My Backyard

 

source

 

During Russia’s assault of Ukraine, trees and bushes

stand defiantly by rubble that a few weeks ago was

homes, businesses, cultural landmarks, and lives.

 

Here I read the spirit of the people of Ukraine

and imagine defenders able to pause and refresh

from green growth.  I know it doesn’t restore victims.

 

I imagine women and children—remote refugees from war—

near trees as well.  I climb down to my home's backyard

to join them in spirit.  As always, I clear trash—

 

and then stand in the waving arms of pine trees, thankful

for soft touch, rough scratches, hard branches, and cones,

and thankful for rusty needles covering moss and grass. 

 

And here I linger.  The truth of the recent press photos fade.

Beauty seduces me into presence, into gratitude for life, and

into concurrent awareness of the gap where purpose groaned. 

 

Here I witness departures and returns, the rhythm of time

that uses us and reprieves us as necessary, that spills love

into us without warning that it will hurt, that it matters.

 

for earthweal weekly challenge: DREAMING IN GREEN

 

 My blog poems are rough drafts.  

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 © 2022 Susan L. Chast