Cello - Dorianne Laux

[Larry Robinson]

Cello

When a dead tree falls in a forest
it often falls into the arms 
of a living tree. The dead, 
thus embraced, rasp in wind, 
slowly carving a niche 
in the living branch, sheering away 
the rough outer flesh, revealing 
the pinkish, yellowish, feverish 
inner bark. For years 
the dead tree rubs its fallen body 
against the living, building 
its dead music, making its raw mark, 
wearing the tough bough down, 
moaning in wind, the deep 
rosined bow sound of the living 
shouldering the dead.

	- Dorianne Laux