The forest stands, equanimous
Between heaven and earth
Stretching its branches to the light
That breaks in foliage and ferns
Roots deepening in moist earth
The stock market plunges
The economy collapses
People run amok
Wars rage on
The forest stands, looking
Completely unconcerned
I go to the forest
To leave my worries there
My thoughts jump
From branch to branch
Then they are tired
Settling down
In the cool moss
I am rid of them
Breathing pure life
That comes and goes
Without drama
There in the bushes
The shadows of the past appear
The fear of what was
The panic of what is to come
The forest
Knows no past
No future
No road from there to there
Only cycle
Day and night,
Summer and winter,
Life and death,
The forest stands in the moment
Breathing
Our fear sweat
And giving comfort
Hold me, tree
I put my arms
Around your trunk
My finger on your wound
Your resin is my plaster
Your bark, my pillow
My ear on your trunk
Do I hear your heart,
Or is it mine?
