Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE TREE by JAMES OPPENHEIM

First Line: HE SANG AS IF THE HEAVENS HELD ONLY TWO THINGS
Last Line: YET HERE I AM, LIVING, AWARE, AND SINGING WITH LOUD FULL VOICE.

HE SANG as if the heavens held only two things: God and himself.

Was his voice heard as the roving Spirit leaned toward the Tree of the Skies
And parted the leaves of the stars,
And peered through at the tiny green blossom, the Earth,
And on Earth, the little singer, standing and praising the Lord?

Yet here I am: the petal of earth swaying in an ocean of far star-leaves:
Yet here I am, living, aware, and singing with loud full voice.



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