Thomas R. Ruffin Poems

ancient tree
sit there beneath winter heartbreak
and be burdened by the contravention of man
tree of immeasurable wisdom
...

as frozen ground is warmed
by a punctual sun
as earth mist hazily rises
skyward
...

would you smile for my life
if that was all I wanted?
if that was all I needed?
would you live a while longer
...

what is a the end of this path?
I've been told it was an old road
... an old road I'm told
what winds have blown 'cross this road?
...

little blessed sister looked right into me
so I looked back at her … right into her
and I saw a curiosity
right there on her face
...

if I raised up my hands
to some perfect heaven
beyond impenetrable clouds
if I collapsed onto an unforgiving earth
...

so the gods bring down the rains
and over yet another young child
... there is a cleansing
for were we not once all children?
...

'I'll take her and throw her around, by damn'
he'd say at feeding time
when his hands were strapped to the arms of the chair
...

she's known to come skippin' down the road
at odd enough times
with a basket full of happy
clickin' and clackin'
...