October Trees
October Trees
It seemed a cup that brimmed hot leaves,That held all fires, all fruits;I put the red tree to my lipsAnd drained it to the roots.* * *Beneath the smouldering trees I walk at night.I know they burn! although they give no light.* * *I plucked a flame from off a tree,Not thinking it would injure me;It scorched my hand, it caught my hair,It burned my heart to ashes there;I played with fire in the wood—No woman should, no woman should!* * *All day it rains—but on the hillThe dripping embers warm me still!* * *Hush—Is this the burning bushThat Moses heard?And was the voice a bird?
It seemed a cup that brimmed hot leaves,That held all fires, all fruits;I put the red tree to my lipsAnd drained it to the roots.* * *Beneath the smouldering trees I walk at night.I know they burn! although they give no light.* * *I plucked a flame from off a tree,Not thinking it would injure me;It scorched my hand, it caught my hair,It burned my heart to ashes there;I played with fire in the wood—No woman should, no woman should!* * *All day it rains—but on the hillThe dripping embers warm me still!* * *Hush—Is this the burning bushThat Moses heard?And was the voice a bird?
It seemed a cup that brimmed hot leaves,That held all fires, all fruits;I put the red tree to my lipsAnd drained it to the roots.* * *Beneath the smouldering trees I walk at night.I know they burn! although they give no light.* * *I plucked a flame from off a tree,Not thinking it would injure me;It scorched my hand, it caught my hair,It burned my heart to ashes there;I played with fire in the wood—No woman should, no woman should!* * *All day it rains—but on the hillThe dripping embers warm me still!* * *Hush—
It seemed a cup that brimmed hot leaves,
That held all fires, all fruits;
I put the red tree to my lips
And drained it to the roots.
* * *
Beneath the smouldering trees I walk at night.
I know they burn! although they give no light.
* * *
I plucked a flame from off a tree,
Not thinking it would injure me;
It scorched my hand, it caught my hair,
It burned my heart to ashes there;
I played with fire in the wood—
No woman should, no woman should!
* * *
All day it rains—but on the hill
The dripping embers warm me still!
* * *
Hush—
Is this the burning bushThat Moses heard?And was the voice a bird?
Is this the burning bush
That Moses heard?
And was the voice a bird?