Poetry Friday

photo via Unsplash

Vertical
by Linda Pastan

Perhaps the purpose 

of leaves is to conceal 

the verticality 

of trees

which we notice 

in December 

as if for the first time: 

row after row 

of dark forms 

yearning upwards. 

And since we will be 

horizontal ourselves 

for so long, 

let us now honor 

the gods 

of the vertical: 

stalks of wheat 

which to the ant 

must seem as high 

as these trees do to us, 

silos and 

telephone poles, 

stalagmites 

and skyscrapers.

(read the rest at Poets.org)

Tara is hosting the Poetry Friday roundup at Going to Walden. When I saw that she had a poem by Linda Pastan, I decided to share one by Pastan, too!