The river holds a boat,
a canoe,
a drowning man.
The boat motors away.
The canoe slips past
with a swish-slap of a paddle.
The bent bough of a tree sways, stoops
to reach him.
He grasps the rough bark
of the living branch—
and lets go
of the splintering soft-shadows
of the speedily dying
fading toward the light
who’ve no time now.
Reaching shore, will he
sputter curses
at his fellow man
or praise the Creator
in the helping hand
and become a palm-giving man?
© 2025 Jennifer Wagner
“…only God can make a tree.” - Joyce Kilmer
Beautiful - There so many choice in life where we could curse and instead should praise. Thank you
ReplyDeleteA beautiful message of our life's choices. I would like to believe that we can make those good choices and become a palm giving man. Wishing you a good holiday and joyful New Year.
ReplyDeleteI love all the sounds and images in this, Jennifer, and how the title makes me think of "psalm". And this image feels like such a benediction:
ReplyDelete"The bent bough of a tree sways, stoops
to reach him."
❤️
I like the way you built a chain of individual brief events into a poem, Jennifer, with effective use of actions and sounds. Wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteThe image of the "the splintering soft-shadows," is so deeply poignant ~
ReplyDeleteI really love the question in the end, the wonderful branch so much better than his fellow men.
ReplyDeleteI love your poem. There is a great lesson to be learned here!
ReplyDeleteMy fervent hope is he chooses the latter, Jennifer ... your poem gives great food for thought. Wishing you Happy Holidays and a Great 2026.
ReplyDeleteSo much to think about in this tightly woven verse. Love the images you have created, Jennifer. ❤️
ReplyDeleteWishing you a wonderful 2026.