Willow

here in wyandot county ohio a willow tree

weeps at the woods in a bleeding jealous rage that

he’s all the way out here and they are all the way in there

step fathers and fathers have sent their boys out

for a switch

picking little whips picking small weapons to heal

sins and playing in the garden shooting your eyes out with bb guns and

stolen gas station porno

but the willow tree does not mind the switch picking

or the kisses had near his boughs

he simply wants an undergrowth of things

more dangerous than ragweed and mowed lawns

he wants to idly die by a stream and house a family of raccoons and other pests

because the men from the building by his pond will cut him down and burn his parts

—like a ripe october hog

or make him into chairs or a table for a child

this disgusts the strength of his branches and twine

the willow wants the woods to love him

to take him back after the tree line moved

so far back so long ago

the willow wants what the willow wants and that’s

to be back in the woods

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

RSS feed for Zach Smith Zachary Smith has been featured in publications and readings around Columbus, Ohio, and sometimes elsewhere. On the verge of graduating from The Ohio State University with two degrees, Zach finds time to write in the early mornings before class, work, and the waking of his baby daughter. See more, including free online content, on Zach Smith's author page.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR