Vol. 2. / 189.) The Letter Tree

There isn’t much you could say

About a tree with no leaves

Except that it was probably winter

But it wasn’t, it was summer

And still the tree had no leaves

And, no, it wasn’t dead, either

It was a dream, of course ---

A waking dream, and one which

Haunted me for many days . . .

It was so, that as I stood and stared

The tree became transparent ---

And in the ground I saw the roots

Splay out --- as though there was no

Earth there, and no more there wasn’t

But a clear stream beneath this tree

Was all there was --- until ---

A pause in time and up through the

Roots I saw white waters flow --- and

As they went --- became as letters?!

Leaves now grew out the strangest tree

As branches filled with many letters!

And --- as if this weren’t enough, a wind

Appeared and bent the thing, and off

The letters flew as if on angel’s wings!

Ten thousand went --- and on the tree

Ten thousand more and all complete!

To write to a country you do not know

Or to people you have never seen

And see a tree soak up your every word

Is weird! --- and to watch a picture

Of your life burst through your walls ---

Is strange! --- but then to know you’re

Not insane is even stranger!

How can this thing be? I do not know!

But, oh, how funny it is and very true!

What joy and laughter can and does

--- Breakthrough!

      *

Amethyst Poetry / Of the Way to Enter In / Unless a Grain of Wheat . . .

       Perhaps the previous four 'ragged writings' of Amethyst Poetry are somber; but in the way of life there is first a falling into the ground for the seed to grow. Unless a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it remains alone on the surface...a beautiful golden grain, yes, but one bearing no life. But, if it die, it brings forth much fruit. The life inside the seed can only be released, if it falls into the moist earth and enters into the darkness there, and 'dies.' Just the same as for the grain of wheat, our life comes out of our own time of darkness. Only if it goes, 'underground,' will the seed swell and grow and break out into light. Only if there is first a stage of darkness and disintegration, will there be, second, the breakthrough and a gift of new life and fruitfulness. 

     Another analogy of life is the amaranth: the imaginary purple flower hanging on to its stem, not wanting to fade and fall; yet, if it does, it becomes never-fading, and it has everlasting life. The same principle of life applies as much to the flower as to the corn of wheat; unless it passes for a newer bud and blossom to come, the plant never achieves its full potential. The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: the grass withers, the flower fades: because the spirit of the Lord blows upon it: surely the people are as grass. The grass withers, the flower fades: (our lovely flowers of Sensennae,) but the word of our God shall stand for ever.  If my life ‘plant,’ withers and my ‘flower’ fade, it is all because of Love – infinite and incomprehensible – because the wind of the spirit is blowing upon me.

     So the next four amaranthine gems of Amethyst Poetry which flowed from my midst are still somber, but I felt to include them in the next four posts. 

     Persevere! Our times in dark places are not forever! Soon we breakthrough! We break out into the sunlight! Never-fading petals open out into the light! Unspeakable dancing delight wells up within us! And the ‘shining through’ we had so longed for! ...It is all around us!