The Elm: Victoria Peterson-Hilleque

1

September 30, 2013 by northerncardinalreview

I do not know when
it started. I refuse

to blame the beetles,
Nor do I blame

the fungus, dumbly
moving in my system.

The first two branches
died slowly, yellowing

to brown. You can see
the shape I was.

You cannot see the shape
I will become.

The cardinals build their nest,
too polite to mention

their branch is gone.
I hope to see the babies

hatch wet and blind.

—

Victoria Peterson-Hilleque’s poems appeared or are forthcoming in Paper Nautilus, The Montucky Review, Poppy Road Review, and other journals. She’s the Poet-In-Residence at Solomon’s Porch Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota where she also teaches a poetry workshop.

Advertisement