A man as gray as ash,
I walk green breezy woods
Fallen trunks speak to me
of what they were and when
“Once we were green and huge,
we caught sun in our nets
Once we stood and we swayed,
we defied wind and storm
Our now was forever,
deep our roots delved dark earth
We slept through the winters
untroubled by the snow
We woke up in the spring
with rage to make life new
And all that we were, sir,
is best forgotten now
And all that we were, sir
is past ripe to rotting”
I lose a flake of ash
here and there but walk on
by dark rushing river
that holds water and time
The breezes that touch me
are both caress and claw.
Cardinal’s bright in bush,
talisman of flame.
I loose myself in speech
I lose myself in song
Ash once was wood of dreams,
now burnt by becoming
To be lighter and less,
ready for wingless flight
This summer took so long
coming, swiftly is gone
as the trout keep rainbows
in the river’s deep holes.
A man as gray as ash
I walk green breezy woods
Beware that you see me
long after I am gone