304 and 305

In April, out of cold, unyielding clay,

the Lord was bored, and had a human made,

who wandered from his sight next month, in May,

and had, by June, a hearty debt, unpaid.

July found him in pride and purse distraught,

and August at the swine’s unwieldy trough.

September swelter couldn’t cure his haught,

at October’s inviting arms, he scoffed.

November had he mind to go and find

a pleasure that December might renew,

but January’s snow had so resigned

that February’s pleasures, too, be few.

By March, he, like the Lord, was very bored,

but April’s Easter brought a great reward.

~~~

I saw a tree that did not capture me

with any real astonishing attraction.

But my companion stopped short, suddenly,

and stammered at my plain dissatisfaction.

He said, “do you not see what’s on this tree?

the leaves that wave with windfall’s chain reaction?

the way it is a green and velvet sea

what with the way the leaves reap light’s refraction?”

I looked again, and saw what he could see,

but wouldn’t have without this shocked transaction.

I’m grateful that he told me truthfully,

it was a life-reshaping interaction.

For otherwise I’d never even know

the beauty that was known by my fellow.