The Praying Tree by Melinda Palacio

View this email on a browser Forward to a friend September 23, 2015   The Praying Tree   Melinda Palacio

Ten years of driving the same highway, past the same tree, the picture        is at last complete. The eucalyptus tree and narrow birds above a blessed steel sea with no thoughts of yesterday, today, or tomorrow.   Black cormorants on bare branches spread their wings as if in prayer. A sunny day in Summerland and the tree, visible only from the                       highway, hides its penitent perch from cars racing by too fast.   Four wheels swerve to avoid a sheer cliff, southbound on the 101. The fat sun slides its yolk into the glass ocean. Slow down, see an empty nest of woven round sticks in the praying tree.   Birds soak in rays without fear of melanoma or the nature of forgiveness. Slick imperfections, wet wings open and close in Morse code for goodbye.            Copyright © 2015 by Melinda Palacio. Used with permission of the author. About This Poem   “I consider myself an observant person. I was surprised that it took showing off the Pacific Ocean to a visitor for me to notice the simple splendor of eucalyptus on the border of Santa Barbara and Summerland that I’ve dubbed the praying tree.” —Melinda Palacio   Melinda Palacio is the author of How Fire Is a Story, Waiting (Tia Chucha Press, 2012). She lives in Santa Barbara and New Orleans.   Photo credit: Daniel Zolinsky Poetry by Palacio   How Fire Is a Story, Waiting (Tia Chucha Press, 2012) "Housesitting, Boston" by Tony Trigilio "Spain" by Major Jackson "Poem for Jack Spicer" by Matthew Zapruder Poem-a-Day   Launched during National Poetry Month in 2006, Poem-a-Day features new and previously unpublished poems by contemporary poets on weekdays and classic poems on weekends. Thanks for being a part of the Academy of American Poets community. To learn about other programs, including National Poetry Month, Poem in Your Pocket Day, the annual Poets Forum, and more, visit Poets.org.   You are receiving this e-mail because you elected to subscribe to our mailing list. If you would like to unsubscribe, please click here.   © Academy of American Poets 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 901, New York, NY 10038