Speaking of Countdowns

In addition to the opening of pocket number 1 tomorrow (see below), we (like there is more than one brain behind this operation) will also be launching the classic (as in it started last year) Merwin Christmas countdown. This is one of the more pathetic displays of my dog obsession, but it also sucks up the life of the blog and allows no room for anything other than Merwin's mug through Christmas. So when I came across this poem today, I felt the need to post it since otherwise, it wouldn't see the light of the blog-o-sphere until 2013.

I have always had a thing for trees during this time of year and I love how the poet captures the idea of them "yearning upwards." The poem itself is quite vertical and the juxtaposition with the inevitable horizontalness of our futures is interesting. Let's not think too much about that countdown...

Vertical

by Linda Pasten

Perhaps the purpose
of leaves is to conceal
the verticality
of trees
which we notice
in December
as if for the first time:
row after row
of dark forms
yearning upwards.
And since we will be
horizontal ourselves
for so long,
let us now honor
the gods
of the vertical:
stalks of wheat
which to the ant
must seem as high
as these trees do to us,
silos and
telephone poles,
stalagmites
and skyscrapers.
But most of all
these winter oaks,
these soft-fleshed poplars,
this birch
whose bark is like
roughened skin
against which I lean
my chilled head,
not ready
to lie down.