Endless Lawn XV

The Mountain Guard Reclines in Sun

There is a tall pine growing

in the yard behind my house.

Its needles grow in bunches

like little green families.

The fallen needles turn red

and create a lush carpet

here, above my friend’s body.

This friend of mine was strong,

but could not conquer time.

Who among you knew him

in the way that I did?

His smile, dark and tender,

when he worshipped the sun?

But I’m not gloating

I am rejoicing.

Because I believe

that his calm spirit

lingers here with me.

So much so that

each time I mow,

I touch the tree

and I greet him.

Careful not

to nick roots

above ground.

For he

exists

there.

I wrote this poem last summer. I was trying to make it look like an upside-down tree. Looks more like a carrot. The first stanza is seven lines long and there are seven syllables in each line. The second is six lines long with six syllables in each line. The poem continues in this way until the last stanza is only one syllable. I hope you enjoyed it. I will be posting the sister poem for this one soon.

T. Evans, June 2021