Here’s a reading of the poem, if you’re into hearing the poet read his work:
The world and how it makes us
High in the trees
insects I will never see
make noises with their
wings, remind me
the world is wild
will grow over and
through me, I must be
careful.
Trees with roots
longer than I can
dream tunnel beneath my feet
wilful networks that would
make civil engineers blush with
envy.
In the pause between nature's
sounds—bird calls up the hill, the
crescendos of insects' vibrating tymbals
the anonymous whisper of the
wind—I'm reminded
everything is built or
formed. The concrete slab, the
Adirondack chair on which I
sit to sun, this street where
neighbours can be heard
laughing as they
barbecue.
We shape it
fight gravity, entropy
every minute
never stop and with great
labour pangs it too
makes us.© 2025 Andrew Kooman
This poem I can see, hear and feel. It’s an emotion I am still learning to live with…..