"Found Poem"

A fancy word for plagiarism, I think, but it's a recognized form and this was an assignment. I took all of these words from "Poisonwood Bible" by Kingsolver. (Great book, btw)

The Eyes in the Trees

I stir and the memories rise out of me…

Imagine a ruin so strange it must never have happened.

Think of the vine that curls from the place that was once my heart.

That is the only marker you need.

The forest eats itself and lives forever.

It’s raining, but only a little mist comes down.

The water pools in our footsteps.

The eyes in the trees never blink.

Flowers so sweet they conjure up sin or heaven,

Depending on which way you are headed.

How say ye to my soul,

Flee as a bird to your mountain?

The substance of grief is not imaginary.

It’s as real as rope or the absence of air.

Listen. To be lived is to be marked.

To live is to change.

Everything that comes of morning undoes itself before nightfall.

Fires die down, sun sinks away, sky bleeds, goes dark.

Ashes to Ashes.

In perfect stillness,

I’ve found only sorrow.

Are you now the flesh of Africa?

If you are the eyes in the trees,

How will you make your judgement?

The substance of grief is not imaginary.

It’s as real as rope or the absence of air.

Listen. To be lived is to be marked.

To live is to change.

Slide the weight from your shoulders and move forward.

You are afraid you might forget, but you never will.

You will forgive and remember.

Think of the vine that curls from the place that was once my heart.

That is the only marker you need.

The forest eats itself and lives forever.

You are afraid you might forget, but you never will.