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The Two Trees

Donald P. Goodman III

Version 1.0 (15 Dec 1207)

The trees stand side by side, a man between the two

and to them both he casts his sad and weary gaze,

and weak, exhausted, broken, one he must pursue:

upon one or the other he must end his days;

and to the West stood one, a crooked, broken tree,

and swinging from it was a broken man, a rope

suspending head unharmed and slumped, arms loose and free,

and swaying in the breeze, beyond all help and hope;

and to the East and facing north, a straighter tree,

a broken body fastened to it, hands and feet,

but arms outstretched, embracing earth and sky and sea,

his face so pained! so worn out from a work complete!

So West or East, O man? Where point your weary way?

At which tree's foot will you find your eternal seat?

At one the body will forever freely sway;

but at the other, suff'ring faces break of day!

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