August 14, 2018

තිරස්ව





























Vertical- Linda Pastan

Perhaps the purpose
of leaves is to conceal
the verticality
of trees
which we notice
in December
as if for the first time:

row after row
of dark forms
yearning upwards.
And since we will be
horizontal ourselves
for so long,
let us now honor
the gods
of the vertical:
stalks of wheat
which to the ant
must seem as high
as these trees do to us,

silos and
telephone poles,
stalagmites
and skyscrapers.
but most of all
these winter oaks,
these soft-fleshed poplars,
this birch
whose bark is like
roughened skin
against which I lean
my chilled head,
not ready
to lie down.



දිනමිණ වසත් සුළඟ- 14.08.2018






6 comments:

  1. The vertical nature of beings both plants and animals is uncertain, but one day, lying horizontal permanently, is quite certain!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Replies
    1. Yes, and a different way of looking at it..

      Delete
  3. Sometimes, hanging on to the life fightingly, is the way to let it go peacefully when the time comes, remembering how full you lived it. I really like how Linda Pastan challenges our standard frames of thoughts with subtle use of words.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Thisara, the use of words in her poetry is amazing. simple but quite profound. One of my favourite poets.

      Delete