Shaking the ground

In high school, he roamed

the bottom ground

along the river

Dreamed of living in the woods

living off the land, living off the grid

One day, he woke up angry

he did not know why

he was just angry

He went searching

for a dead tree

bald of bark and limb

He did not know why

he was searching

for an old dead tree

he just was

All summer, he tested

his body against old trunks

hoping they were weak

hoping one was ready to fall

On an early autumn day

the kind of day

they call, Indian summer

A grey trunk shuddered

against his weight

he knew this one was ready

He heaved and heaved

until it fell, shaking the ground

tearing at the other trees

And he did not know why

but for the first time

in a long time

he did not feel angry

4-24-20