Written 16 December 1967
Climbing My Tree
The poem has curious psychological overtones or undertones. You are free to 
figure them out. My mother and I planted the oak tree, it did begin to grow a 
year after apparently dying, but I don't think I actually climbed it.

When I was small I planted a tree
At the edge of the front yard garden
I loved to climb, it was my plea
That tree must grow and harden

The first year it took root all riight
And green leaves grew upon it
But brown they turned with Autumn's gaze
That spring no leaves grew on it

I thought it dead but left it there
A standing corpse stark naked
The next year came and once again
Good leaves and seeds grew on it

It grew with me that sturdy tree
And each year found it stronger
The branches thickened and threw down shade
But to climb I must wait longer

Full manhood then I reached and left
For other far off cities
The tree was still a virgin since
No one had yet climbed on it

Two years and three I stayed away
The tree for me grew lonely
But I came back for visit short
My eyes looked treeward only

I grabbed my hand upon its branch
And pulled my body skyward
The eager tree supported me and
I finally did climb it

Another poem started that night for a girl named Elena

The spring of the year is coming around
The sun is getting higher
Its brilliant light has wakened me
For you I'm still on fire.....