Unpacking in an Empty Place

Unpacking in an Empty Place
Yong Wan Choi 03.22.11

The tree did not choose its place
it came to unpack among the trees
just a new nest built in a small shady corner
from putting its morning face out in the east until evening
running west and west again in search of light
shade that needlessly makes the way hard
neighbors who pour out sunlight generously for no reason
a whirlpool of conflict between forgiveness and revenge
curses into blessings, resentment into love
as a small sunbeam comes down to the leaves' clapping hands
neighbors who say our meeting was a blessing
neighbors who tell me they are grateful that today exists
living on, paying the price for a place others will move into
owning nothing, living all tangled together
when the empty body, borne on an empty heart, departs
in the empty place a tree, just now unpacking,
begins a new life from today