On What Adds Up

Applied Geometry

Applied geometry,

measuring the height

of a pine from

like triangles,

Rosa’s shadow stretches

seven paces in

low-slanting light of

late Christmas afternoon.

One hundred thirty nine steps

up the hill until the sun is

finally caught at the top of the tree,

let’s see,

twenty to one,

one hundred feet plus a few to adjust

for climbing uphill,

and her hands barely reach mine

as we encircle the trunk,

almost eleven feet around.

Back to the lumber tables.

That one tree might make

three thousand feet of boards

if our hearts could stand

the sound of its fall.