'He was close to nature.
He inspired us.' Looking up
from a student's words,
I saw leaves on a birch-tree
dancing in the wind,
and at once, in that glance,
I knew.

The words startled me
and in the tree
shaking, swaying, dancing
I saw their truth.
It was the rhythm of joy
given and received,
which I knew in an instant,
and hope not to forget again.

            *

Do we abandon the dead
by leaving places where they died?

Ask the daffodils dancing
...