Poem June 26, 1976 Issue

THE TREE

(to be read starting at the bottom)

Eleanor Young Clapp

of all.
is the fruit and seed
LOVE, its season never ending,
when the fruit, like blessings, falls.
THANKFULNESS I feel while gathering
and see the fruit grow ripe and whole.
I could feel the warm sun circling
VIGOR and new GROWTH.
Water came, like INSPIRATION, giving
—UPENDING all the weeds and stubborn stones.
in the blossoms. Now the harder task
Now a season of DEFENDING while REJOICING
vision of the ripened fruit.
Always in my thought I kept the
daily WATCHFULNESS and TENDING.
PATIENCE now and eager HOPE,
all slanted toward the sun.
then more
I'd planted;
from seed
at first,
Two leaves