22 April 2023

Human Nerves and the Friendly Tree (Earth Day 2023)





 

My spinal cord drinks from a tree's core strength
while I lean on it to straighten my bent spine.
Pain eases from nerves pinched at arthritis-
riddled vertebrae and at crumbling discs.
My body knows tree gives what it can.
Gratitude and need hold us together.
I wish to trade kindness for kindness,
as long as we both shall live.
This marriage suits me. I pledge to show up,
to be a friend and not a stranger. I know
I will need more and more help as years pass.
I want the tree to know I, too, will give
what I can. Will I? Will I learn the name
and needs of the strong being that helps
me today? The tree is silent, expecting
nothing. I hope I can prove her wrong.



April is Poetry Month Day #22 

My blog poems are rough drafts.
Please respect my copyright.
© 2023 Susan L. Chast





1 comment:

  1. The spinal cord drinking from a tree's strength really speaks to me, having grown my own inner tree to survive my lot in life. Smiles. You are doing so well with your poem a day in April. Yay!

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