TWO AMONG THE TREES Poem by Steinar Opstad

I understand that too many words
affect the figurativeness of language
I have no insight into trees
instead roles are what interest me
- when I collect myself to write
can I then be punished
The guilt of all who are born is great,
my mother says

The person I am with
says he knows
I do not want to be alone
In the beginning there were two too, he says
Yes, that's how everything begins, I say
and he turns his face
and tries to look into my mouth
but it is a mouth, not a gospel

and if only someone would clap
in this silence, I'm thinking
and looking at his hair
and his imperfect face
Finally I am the one who claps
and he smiles