Linda Pastan Revisits the Espaliered Pear Trees
How the twists and turns of branches
cling to the wall that imprisons
them and the bark, thick and gnarly,
has grown shaggy like the winter
coat of the pony gazing at
all the cars that pass the field where
it has been grazing. Each petal,
the shape of an uncultured pearl
with its polished luster and sheen,
drops to the earth and to my feet
as I drop to my knees and glimpse
a hint of Eden, a slice of
paradise, a piece of heaven,
and almost taste the crisp sweetness
of mature pears out of season.
DEBORAH DOOLITTLE is the author of Floribunda and three chapbooks, No Crazy Notions, That Echo, and Bogbound. Read more.