the way down, and the way up

High Spring in the Smokies

here in High Spring

trees leaf with a green

so toward the yellow

that they look full of sun,

as if to mimic snow,

cherry blossoms flurry down,

so do dogwood petals and silver bells,

plus the outside wrappings for the tulip poplar flower,

they all, and more, drift down through the air,

not that long ago, the winds of early spring

carried spiraling tulip poplar seeds 

onto the same ground,

much of nature fights to assert—

resisting gravity to thrust toward the sky to hold,

may we learn the grace of the way down

to complement the will of the way up.

by Henry H. Walker

April 20, ’17