I Like Trees

Decade
if you mean to love me, ever,
love me now-
Now, before my feet wear even smoother
now, before my hands get old with loss.
If you ever want to love me, now’s the time,
the only time, the time before I go.
These days slip by like little broken beads-
Tuesday, Thursday, Death of Dog Day, When,
The Day I got [...]

Once upon a time, there was a teacher of zen who was asked about marriage.
“The state of marriage,” he replied thoughtfully, “is like an orange.”
“What the heck are you talking about?” asked the students.
“Well,” he went on, “They’re both oranges, except for marriage.”
***
The students, unsatisfied, quarreled among themselves. Some left, still seeking answers, and went [...]