by Pavel Chichikov
The hemlock shakes its folds of skin
And like a green bear up from sleep
Sheds droplets of the northern wind –
The sorrows of the living leap
Up from nothingness the seed,
Strong wind, March, and sliding frost –
Creation a rebellious weed
Disloyal to God but never lost
Tree that will be torn apart
Tree of good and evil grow,
The fruit of you is also art
That evil may its own good know
And good its evil, side by side,
Immortal life, immortal pride
(See Pavel's new book, Mysteries and Stations, here.)
