Trees Fat Bellied With Light

Photo - Douglas Salisbury

"Look, the trees are turning their
 own bodies into pillars  of light"
In Blackwater Woods - Mary Oliver

  I can’t see the trees for the forest.
Limbs eclipse light bulb definition
in my wilderness of lost dreams.
Foggy memories hang from paperclip
eyelashes rusted by swampy tears.

Knees weak from chasing horizons
I sit on the bones of subtraction
wondering who penned “less is more.”

Suddenly, well as fast as sudden
can arrive on turtle feet, trees
fat bellied with light break through
my self-pity tearing it into fireflies.

Splinter roots no longer burn
or brew bitter tea on my lips.
Home is (was) walls papered
in few expectations, but I am
a broken limb grafted on the sky.

©Susie Clevenger 2015







Comments

a sad tone but hoe pis still there
Fireblossom said…
I love the turtle feet. Sometimes moments of understanding arrive in increments instead of flashes.
Maude Lynn said…
Knees weak from chasing horizons
I sit on the bones of subtraction
wondering who penned “less is more.”

I love, love, love that.
Sherry Blue Sky said…
WOW! The turtle feet, the subtractions, and then that brave broken limb, grafted on the sky. Poetry doesnt get any better.
Hannah said…
"trees
fat bellied with light break through
my self-pity tearing it into fireflies."

and

"I am a broken limb grafted on the sky."

Wow...all together excellent and powerful, Susie...thank you, for shining and sharing your Light.
Other Mary said…
Beautiful, Susie. Your closing lines are especially good. So hopeful.
Sanaa Rizvi said…
Splinter roots no longer burn
or brew bitter tea on my lips.

Such intense & powerful lines.
Beautifully executed!

Lots of love,
Sanaa
brudberg said…
This forest works so well as an extended metaphor for life's ordeals.. and to be that broken limb.. you captured that darkness in the picture so well.
kaykuala said…
Foggy memories hang from paperclip
eyelashes rusted by swampy tears

Sadness can linger on even though memories fade a little with time! Nicely Susie!

Hank
Kerry O'Connor said…
Foggy memories hang from paperclip
eyelashes rusted by swampy tears.

You'll go a long way to read an image as well expressed as this. Thanks for the inspiring photos shared by Douglas.
SilverGardenia said…
I love the imagery of the last line.
C.C. said…
"I sit on the bones of subtraction"--wow, wow, wow. This is stunning. Love it.
Outlawyer said…
This is just a lovely poem, Susie--I love the move to light through the trees to fireflies to self--a kind of salvation there! k .
grapeling said…
paper clips and turtle feet... crisp images to accompany your talented friend, Susie ~
Grace said…
I admire the turn from bones of subtraction to trees fat bellied in light ~ A stunning response Susie ~