Martha Golensky Speaking of Trees

Speaking of Trees. . .

On the far horizon, their denuded limbs, robed in black against the leaden sky, resemble a church choir offering hymns.

What do they talk about as the light dims, these somber sentinels watching from up high on the far horizon, waving denuded limbs?

Do they comment on our petty whims, which as observers must surely mystify this black-robed choir offering hymns?

Or perhaps they grasp our fears so grim that we hide behind greed, an urge to deny. On the far horizon, they shake denuded limbs.

I envy the trees, even in their bare winter trim, for all they need are the basics, in good supply, so this church-like choir can offer its hymns.

Alas, our spirit withers when pickings are slim. We must believe there’s hope on which to rely. On the far horizon, the trees’ denuded limbs resemble a church choir offering hymns.

Martha Golensky

Martha Golensky is the author of the poetry collection Pride of Place. Her poems have been published in literary journals, anthologies, general-purpose magazines, and online. She is also the author of numerous articles and a textbook on nonprofit management, her professional field for over thirty years until retiring to Greensboro, NC in 2007. She has taught poetry writing on behalf of the Shepherd’s Center of Greensboro and is currently the facilitator of a poetry group at her retirement community.