On Watching Terrence Malick’s Tree of Life
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the Earth? …
the galaxy howls like a lost dog
twilight becomes itself
black holes reach out fingers probing
I see demons coming home from war
did I choose the way of nature?
did I choose the way of grace?
when you come back, will the bells toll?
will you remain always this age?
will the shafts of light be their own God?
the way of grace a gingham dress twirling in spooled sunlight on a hardwood floor
the way of nature a mercy killing
the tree undrops its fruit
time is the mother wound
come for me come for us all
which way the leaves fall
tells us everything we need to know about wintering
in the cleft of the rock
the Lord ravishes
death becomes the skin
take shelter
take now press it to your lips dripping
take the universe place it in your mouth whole still glowing
Jessica Bailey is a poet originally from upstate New York but now calls NYC home. Her work has previously been featured in albatross. When not writing, Jessica enjoys hiking, cooking and cuddling her orange tabby Leo.
The Marbled Sigh 