Burl of Trail
On the Hemlock Point Trail at the Green Lane Reservoir in Montgomery County, PA
When those who looped a trail around this lake,
Arrived right here, there was a brief reprieve,
And someone wondered whether they should snake
Around or cut the path right through. The tree
Survived, but sometime between now and then,
The tree was felled; by storm I’m sure at first,
but later ground to ground by working men.
I wonder now, “Will here be so traversed
That one day we who walk this way erase
All trace of roots, what’s left of beveled stump?
Will we but leave a nothing, empty space?
A wider way conveyed from what is not?
A years-and-years-of-feet-made burl of trail
For future walker’s wonder through time’s veil?”
You can listen to me read it here:
https://soundcloud.com/benwhitepoetry/burl-of-trail
Today, if you hear his voice 