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danakirstine

The Paw Paw Tree





















An old Pawpaw tree stands below the slope overlooking Owsley revivor.


Here it waits for morning sun to glisten over eastern cedar roof shingles in cotton candy streams.


Watching for the kayakers to grace distant narrow knobs with their zippered jackets, capped locks, and cushioned arches.


It’s golden leaves dancing to the waltz of steady marching feet, elongated paddles, and accompanying life vests


unaware of those who were here before but for the inscriptions carved along its gray trunk.


Here the tree stands solitary and firm the grief and delightful journey of many show on its uncommonly protruding tap roots


The scars of life; the hopeful dreams of years forgotten All who pass the tree, even the lonely blue crane, are subject to seasons arbitration


health may wain, but story linger here firm embossed in the dark wrinkles of the tree’s ripened custard fruit


Unfolded blade declared young love a year before the road was paved A name added to the long accounting written in awkward script leaves twirl and welcome new declarations for all eternity to see


Maroon blossoms long to collect bits of wisdom and burst open as moments are recorded from those who can’t resist


None of us has resided here long enough to know of the tree’s origins Racoons, opossums, gray squirrels, and birds have all forgotten


its sleepy, drooping, pyramid shape hobbled to phase and season quietly balance our erratic joys, struggles, regrets, and sorrows


Alone at the edge of the sparcely graveled walkway it waits for companionship- the wound of life, the portal of spirit, the awakening of moment


like me, it waits for when this time slows, no longer needing the steady achievement and accounting

for when wonder returns, the sun heats our chest, and thoughts shift once again towards ponder


here it waits for evening sun to shadow our insanity and all our restlessness -for azure canvas to again be painted auburn and red and fall behind the western pinnacle.


God’s old Pawpaw tree stands below the slope overlooking Owsley reservoir where it waits for tomorrow.

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