Our Silence

My silence and your silence
speak a language
we learned long ago
in a world where silence
moved the waves
and every sparrow
flew on wings of silence
into our eyes

And every word
we learned to speak
is part of a prayer
connecting us
to all the words
spoken by all people
everywhere
ever

This silence and these words
invented love

Taught us to whisper
Hello
Taught us
To open our eyes

Taught us
To enter the woods
And fields
And learn the meaning
Of everything

The Lives of Trees

It’s easy for trees
Leaves
and then no leaves
year after year
Us?

The slow growth of our children?
Their early deaths?
Our early deaths?
Our fears and dreams?

Trees have it easy.
They are like god —

Indifferent
Breathing in & out
Blind to longing

and love and loss
Blind to those living
Only with hope

–John Guzlowski