voice | poetry
Clings to a rock
Root suckles at soil
Leaf stretches for warmth.
Where moss can grow
Footholds of green
Press on gray.
Love’s caress breathes your scent
Stuck to you as bark along the branch.
Wood, too wet to burn
Smokes out the flies
—Noisy pests that seek blood.
***
*inspired by trees growing out of rock at
Western Washington University’s arboretum tunnel
Shannon Laws is an award-winning poet, performer, and advocate for the arts. She has been recognized with two Mayor’s Arts Awards and the Dr. Asha Bhargava Memorial Award — Community Champion. Shannon is the author of five poetry books and publishes Corridor, a free monthly poetry zine. She lives in Bellingham, Washington. View more posts
shannon p. laws