Reinhard F. Hahn

[To Reinhard F. Hahn’s index]

Pollard Willows

Translated by the author

motionless specters
from the fog of childhood

throughout life
eager, obedient, lopped and cropped

with furrowed knags
where crotches were meant to lead to new paths

with grotesque stumps
where branches were meant to strive toward light

their arrow-straight claws
reaching for a dreary sky

without greeting
do they stand by the road

not anxious to know
the whereabouts of the prodigal son

[To Reinhard F. Hahn’s index]