The Wedding Tree
For Helen and Lee
The Wedding Tree
For Helen and Lee
Patterson, New York, 2010
The trees have heard things that we have not.
Secret threads wrapped around their roots
Reach down to the sound of something
Hidden in the belly of the earth.
While a thousand crooked fingers stretch up to the sky
The Leaves of Paper flapping–
Like butterflies gone mad for light.
It was written, long ago, in the bark,
Long ago, before they ever met, or spoke.
Some say it was whispered,
But it took them long to hear it.
It was a secret,
Even to themselves.
The day came.
They stood beneath the tree.
With a ring on her hand crossed over his,
The moss had begun to show
A hundred shades of green, below.
From the quiet sky,
A bird landed on his shoulder
Sang the name of love beyond the trees,
Beyond the drunken meadows,
And maddened butterflies-
To the whole earth,
To all the earths,
Beholding
The same song
In both of their hearts.
© Siofra O’Donovan, 2010
Beautiful poem Siofra 💚