The Trees on Her Block
By Camille Sherman
Thick strands, split ends, hanging in zero gravity toward the sky
A morning stretch, limbs painting fine details on the clouds
Noble, astute, aged and ageless
Naked and resolute, spindly in its brittle winter coat
Immune from human error, impervious to neglect or over-watering
Pledging a sacred vow of new life in the spring
Thawing those that pass below
Breathing new poems into poets,
Fresh brush strokes into painters
Holding our attention and springing our steps
Until a season-long sunset
When autumn leaves start to fall
Camille Sherman is a professional opera singer from the Bay Area. She trained at The Boston Conservatory and the San Francisco Conservatory of music, and served as an Artist in Residence at Pensacola Opera and Portland Opera. She currently lives in Portland, where she continues to sing and develop artistic projects with local artists.
