I Shall Never See

A long journey

Joyce Kilmer Park in the Bronx

To his home in New Brunswick, New Jersey

Walking the way

A pilgrim’s quest

I come

Gateway to his mansion

Behind and above

An enormous red oak

Towering

God

I marvel

The one tree

I pass the gate

Go back

Wrap my arms as far as I can

Around the massive trunk

Absorb the energy

Walk about it

Carefully seeking

If perhaps

Carved in the ancient bark

God made this tree and inspired my poem

Joyce Kilmer

So many millions know your words

I find those words

I shall never see