He Cut Down the Cottonwood
by Carol Hamilton


said it would cause disaster
__and like all things it was full
of grace and full of empty space

and he cut down our long years
__and dare I say there are no leaves
all silver-backed to laugh at empty space

but another great tree sent roots
__clear to the front yard, gulps up
nutrients, moisture and leafs empty space

and like all things is full of grace
__and prone to all kinds of disaster
broken limbs, broken lines, clogged drains

but its long crippled years shade
__the hammock, cool feverish mowing
and like mine are full of grace
__and what can I say of disaster?






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