For the Pines by Amanda Galeotti

For the PinesAmanda GaleottiI’ve known the paralyzing anguishOf the dark nights of soulWhen the gleaming edge of a bladeGlints like a glittering saviorI’ve been in cave pitch blindnessI’ve wondered in a world of 8 billionHow loneliness could ever put down rootsIn despair, I’ve found communionwith mosquitoes and loonsblack bears and ravensAnd every phase of the moonWith sparkling stars, acting a sceneAnd treesAll of themEspecially the pineWith drooping boughsAnd bleeding sapSomehow when even the ash and sycamore have sunken to winter desolationBowed low by loads of winter snowThe pine holds the hope, keeps the needlesTo weave a haven for winter wayfarersHow much grief have they swallowed for usJust by being with us in winterMore from Amanda Galeotti ↓@amandagaleotti on Instagram@amandanichole on SubstackMentioned in this episode:Write After with One Poem OnlyWrite After is a way to encourage poets to listen and write, and use National Poetry Month to highlight how listening to poetry makes us better poets. I know I write the best when I’m surrounded by beautiful poetry–it’s part of the reason I created this podcast, and I want to encourage others to share this practice. If you want to join: Listen to a poem from the month of April on One Poem Only, then write your own in response. I will pick one for each day to read in June for a special series: One Poem After 🍎🍏 Submissions close May 15.Write After Submissions Form