James Rodgers ------------- poem

A Green, Green Tree

Shakespeare’s love

may have been like

a red, red rose,

all perfume and beauty,

but by the end of the summer

they’re withered,

brown,

moldering

on the compost heap.

Our love

is like a Shore Pine,

Pinus Contorta,

strong,

a little twisted,

but true

and resilient,

able to be battered

by life’s gale force winds,

storms,

the ravages of survival,

and even under

intense heat and pressure,

grows and thrives.

Shakespeare

can keep his roses,

relish

their short-lived blossoms.

I

will breath deep

our resinous fragrance,

continue to grow,

with you,

taller and taller,

watching the flowers,

and others,

come and go,

while we dig our roots

a little bit deeper,

bend but not break

at what comes our way,

and enjoy the view,

the waves

roaring to shore

below.

James Rodgers    05/19/15