classroom


triple trees converged
uniting in the south slope
density of poplars
oaks
occasional beeches
where I wandered
wondered
in that other life
how I might involve

my trinity discovery
and that grey timber
wolf
I saw so clearly at the edge
of woods
and then that perfect scoured skull
skeleton sleeping
where I’d been drinking
fresh spring airs

of course there’s the skunk
I almost kicked
the chorus of coyote kits
black racers swimming
almost as fast
on that pond
my pond then
as slithers through the barn

it’s where I learned
trees could talk
ands every crow and waxwing
was a teacher
that shooting stars would sometimes answer
prayers and questions
terrible to speak
if I would watch
the northern sky
alone at night