SEARCHING FOR THE WIND ON TREETOPS

Sometimes we needed to climb to the treetops

to search for the wind. Other times

we spread out around the house

under willows, pagoda trees, honey locusts, and chinaberries

and climbed by holding the trunks tightly

Still other times we needed to vehemently

shake the branches, holler loudly

and then slowly stick out our head from the treetops

Sometimes I would poke my head out to see

your dad crawling in a sesame field

and his mom still cutting grass by the river for pigs

Other times I would see the field’s scarecrow

in a new outfit

and we would slip down the trees

mount onto a buffalo, or hold onto its horn

while only the gadflies felt the wind they stirred up

Still other times we would repeatedly climb up and down

shed all sweat, and let

the rain nurture us one more time