Tangle
       

As your broad-stemmed green slowly
emerges from the hawkweed
eclipsing the starry-plumed false Solomon's seal
rooted with meadow rue and penstemon intertwined,
and foamflower, grape fern, and yarrow crowd
the alder, vine maple, and black cottonwood
on whose feet
the woodrose and turtle-headed beardtongue tangle, helplessly
thriving, I want

to stand with you, too still to say your name.

Tweet

Copyright © 2016 Christianne Balk All rights reserved
from The Holding Hours
University of Washington Press
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission