Lone Tree
shermanalexie.substack.com
Article voiceover
You're a lone tree, still standing after a lightning strike. It appears that you've endured the worst but peel back the bark and you'll see the flames of want, need, and doubt burning you from the inside out.
Very fine. I appreciate the stripped down. The last five years Ive written more laconically than I ever have, and have a whole section called "The Non- Nature Black Lives Matters Hybrid Haikus "in my soon-to be published first book of poetry. Some examples.
Prelude: Malcolm X
Bonfire eyes blaze
Devour whole libraries
Read the riot act
Tamir Price
I like playing here.
Bang. Bang. Bang.GOTCHA!
Hi, officer I was just-
The Department of Deportaton Deportment
We clean your toilets,
Your lawns, your kids too.
When we're gone, what will you do?
On the Plus Side ( to my wife)
You arrive so alive
The full moon's astonished.
A glow claims the world.
I have some suggestions:
You're a lone tree still
standing after lightning
strikes. It appears
You've endured
the worst. Peel back
the bark.You'll see
flames of want, need
doubt burning you
inside out
I often try to ditch the "little words" used too much in ficton too, to smooth out " the FIELD" for
readers. I marvel how often FIRES AND THEIR AFTERMATHS crackled through your works. Some memories never burn out and who knows if they dont even stay with us at the finale maybe like fireworks that want to continue to have fun with us and amaze kin or else decide we might need some extra warmth
I once believed myself the proverbial "lone wolf". I remember that flame.