Jared Carter, “Willows”

Jared Carter’s most recent book of poems, The Land Itself, is from Monongahela Books in Morgantown, West Virginia. He lives in Indiana.

Willows

A whispering that would not cease
       rose up among
The leaves, as though to seek release
       from ancient wrongs

That had continued, all this time,
       unremedied.
I am but mortal, not divine,
       I said, those deeds

Were never mine. And you assume
       that suffering
Can have an end? The leaves resumed
       their whispering.

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