Can You Imagine?

Can You Imagine?

For example, what the trees do

not only in lightening storms

or the watery dark of a summer's night

or under the white nets of winter

but now, and now, and now -

whenever we're not looking.

Surely you can't imagine they don't dance,

from the root up,

wishing to travel a little,

not cramped so much as wanting a better view,

or more sun,

or just as avidly more shade -

surely you can't imagine

they just stand there loving every minute of it,

the birds or the emptiness,

the dark rings of the years slowly and without a sound thickening,

and nothing different unless the wind,

and then only in its own mood, comes to visit,

surely you can't imagine patience,

and happiness, like that.

~ Mary Oliver ~