Distant Trees
       

"I don't understand why distance
must be measured in nonnegative
numbers."

The thicker part of Wood
Has been cut
And becomes thicker still.

"If I face north,
distance to the south
is behind me."

Every trunk branches
Ten times, and each branch becomes a tree,
Even though painted with herbicide and oil.

"Which way to Hope Ranch?"
"Oh you go back the way you came.
Ten kilometers."

Post Maker lied.
Bad Wood has returned.
Worse and without trails.

"Yesterday I walked all the way
to Wood from my ranchhouse: 3 kilometers,
then back again: 6 kilometers in total
(or is that zero since I walked back
on the reverse azimuth?)
Yesterday I walked to Wood.
Yesterday I walked back.
Yesterday I walked.
Yesterday."

I want to return to Wood,
To the way it was.

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Copyright © 2017 Stephen Page All rights reserved
from A Ranch Bordering the Salty River
Finishing Line Press
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission