New Times,
New Thinking.

  1. Culture
  2. Poetry
17 October 2017

Scenes from Life on Earth

A new poem by Kathryn Simmonds.

By Kathryn Simmonds

I loved the trees,
I didn’t learn their names
but muddled them
into one gorgeous lanky family;

I loved their cool, slim hips
their sudden splits
their tender dark
their never ending want for sky;

I loved their interlaced attentiveness
their flair for being still
or keeping time with any
off-beat breeze.

I loved the trees because
they had redemption down,
oh God be glorified, I loved the trees!
The way they ate their old regrets
and made them into leaves.

Kathryn Simmonds is the author of two collections, Sunday at the Skin Launderette and The Visitations, both published by Seren

Select and enter your email address The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU

Content from our partners
Consulting is at the forefront of UK growth
Can green energy solutions deliver for nature and people?
"Why wouldn't you?" Joining the charge towards net zero

This article appears in the 11 Oct 2017 issue of the New Statesman, How May crumbled