Mangrove
April 22nd, 2007 by 
dani
Inspired by the words of Annie Dillard:
“If survival is an art, then mangroves are artists of the beautiful.”
tip-toe above seawater, mangrove
build new land with the silt you catch
diamond rain and wind play cover you crystalline
impermeable to adversity
against all odds
oysters hide treasure
in the tangle of your roots
your pungent leaves know to turn away
from midday sun for survival
against all odds
you set your baby afloat
only once it can fend for itself
like a fledgling leaving the nest
the seedling bobs along endlessly
against all odds
when the time comes–days, months, years–
the sapling reaches down to anchor in mud below
if it catches nothing, the journey continues
in search of a better place
against all odds
Posted in Poetry | 
April 23rd, 2007 at 7:50 am
Very unusual and interesting! The photo really enhances the prose.
My Sunday Scribblings are posted, too. Stop by!
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:45 am
I would love to see mangroves! I enjoyed your words and photo!
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:04 pm
That tree is ALIVE and walking lol love the pic and enjoy your expression.
April 23rd, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Crafty - I was intrigued by them when I visited the Keys a year and a half ago. They are amazing.
May 10th, 2007 at 10:32 am
Very nice piece! And I learned a bit about mangroves.
May 10th, 2007 at 11:22 am
I used the word roots in one of my poems so I had to check yours out. Mangroves are amazing. Your picture really brought this poem to life. I had no idea what a mangrove really was, actually have only seen them in video games-sad I know.