this is the best you’re expecting; a sky to
enlarge the gloom, a spoon to tell you
the meadow is impossible; well, i’m here to tell you
to shine, to not shine, to make oars of our legs
is to violate the most sacred arrangements
to agitate the sands precisely when
there is no sand at all; and crippling to
the undefined lives of trees and
other creatures seeking wild fulfillment
where do flowers learn to sing? who put
sailors on the moon?
why is heaven next to a drive-in
on a picture of a dirt road?
i try to be profound, but my friend, your
beauty is more brutal than the question,
as if that isn’t enough
The Used Life 
20 responses to “Undefined Lives of Trees”
Lire un poème et croire que l’on comprend la vie du poète est un acte d’audace. Cependant, imaginer la vie du poète – votre vie – donne, d’une certaine manière, un pouvoir d’exprimer une opinion sur ce que signifiaient vos vers … Cette opinion, que vous pouvez deviner, est maintenant dans ma valise pour l’emmener avec moi de l’autre côté de l’océan. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
J’apprécie que vous apportiez mon poème à Cuba. Merci pour vos compliments. 🙂 I hope you read it after I changed “driven-in” to “drive-in”, which was (hopefully) an obvious typo.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t even realize that funny typo, so I should have read it after your correction… Don’t worry, tout va bien. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha ok. They’re my favorite lines of the poem, and I got a little peeved about it. I had to read it like 5 times before I saw the typo. Hate that. 😒
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is advisable not to drink the whole bottle of wine when writing… 😉
Good night, L.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha I’ll remember that next time. 😋🍷 Have a good night, J.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Salut! 🥂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Salut! 🥂
LikeLiked by 1 person
heaven next to a drive-in…that’s wonderful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha thanks. They’re my favorite lines, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So this piece really spoke to me…but I’m not really sure I can articulate how…the lines are weaving in and out and around me and I’m going to let it work its magic through me today..
“I try to be profound, but my friend, your
beauty is more brutal than the question,
as if that isn’t enough” …. this closing stanza is speaking loudly to me…I’m gonna figure out why…so I guess I know how I’m spending my day today 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I am flattered you’re spending some time reflecting on my poem…so I won’t tell you what the last lines mean to me. Thank you, as always, for being so supportive of my work. I look forward to hearing your interpretation of the “Undefined Lives of Trees”, and I wish you a great Monday!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So your poem inspired me to write this…not only an interpretation…but something more…thank you, my friend, for being such an inspiration to me…
“Do not tear your eyes from me
I move for you
my dance will break you
but please
do not look away
I offer what I must
&you, you must take this
this which I give
if you can bear it
it will shatter you
this we both know
I, the gift
you, the vessel
and when another stumbles upon the place we once were
the flowers will sing
& wilt with all they are
and the trees will wave gracefully
in the air that still holds
what once was
in that place we weren’t supposed to be
yet, the only place that could hold
the brutal beauty
the brutal ending
the ground quakes…
the vibration of us
feeding life that remembers
the heaven we were…
if just for a moment
-Janna Watson Smits
LikeLiked by 1 person
How beautiful! Thank you. I love how sensual this poem is, and I love how you’ve transformed the original imagery in order to create something entirely new. You’ve made my day. 🙂💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so pleased you enjoyed the poem. 🙂 Your imagery so often inspires me…sometimes it takes me down the path of what you are desiring to express…and other times, I find myself with pencil in hand writing about what your creativity is manifesting in me…thank you, my friend. You are indeed a gifted artist…
LikeLiked by 1 person
As are you. I think it’s wonderful whenever artists can inspire one another. Thank you again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
this is just wonderful !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much!
LikeLike
I read it afterwards. And then with the typo. It worked both ways for me. But you know me. Excellent poem! And I really like the image with it, too. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha thanks! I’m happy you like it. 😊
LikeLike