Mortality

life and death

Mortality

The day held by the regularity
of minutes, one following the other
none retreating or competing
only constant motion
round and round
until the crash
broadcast
the giant cedar had been struck
and was falling down and down.

None of those surrounding
could impede enough
arrest the loss of this one
now vacating its ground
anchored there so long, now
exposing the midnight sky
above
the forest floor holding
this one that would not see the
the lake-blue sky of morning
light coming with the dawn
to grow those still standing, their
time not finished running down.