Oak Divinity 1, Scarred, by Lynn Pattison

Oak Divinity 1, Scarred, by Linda Rzoska (USA) 2021

Oak Divinity 1, Scarred
     (after Linda Rzoska)
 
                                       The “red-edge:” if our eyes saw in infrared 
                                       the forest would look to be on fire--Oliver Morton
 
The moon snugged close last night, 
left its glow on this mother tree--
she’s welcomed the rich-red highlights,
revels, this morning, in crimson fillagree
 
that’s seeped deep into bark. She’s draped
her limbs in claret, wrapped scarlet scarves,
rippling and crackling, along the curves 
of her trunk. Her roots must radiate
 
the glow of fiery bricks under my feet.
A red stream to slake the forest’s thirst.
Braided rivulets spread like lightning heat
to nearby trees— the red edge, manifest.
​
Lynn Pattison

Lynn Pattison is author of Matryoshka Houses (Kelsay Press, 2020) in addition to three other poetry collections: tesla's daughter (March St. Press); Walking Back the Cat (Bright Hill Press) and Light That Sounds Like Breaking (Mayapple Press). She has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize numerous times and for inclusion in Best Microfiction. Pattison’s work has appeared in Ruminate, Moon City Review, New Flash Fiction Review, The Notre Dame Review, Rhino, Smartish Pace and numerous other publications.