Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


WILLOW BEND AND WEEP by HERBERT CLARK JOHNSON

First Line: BEND WILLOW, WILLOW BEND DOWN DEEP
Last Line: BEND DOWN AND WEEP. I HAVE NOT TEARS.

Bend willow, willow bend down deep
And dip your branches into cold
Brown river water and then weep,
Weep, willow, for my land-sick soul.

Let river tears wash out land grief,
Let river water wash wounds made
By too much toil without relief
While you, willow, stood in the shade.

Willow, you owe this much to me,
I spared the ax for many years,
Your roots are in my land, now, tree
Bend down and weep. I have not tears.



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