The tree that starts its growth

curved by the wind straightens.

Eventually the ungrounded rocks

of a trail are pushed away.

A beetle’s scarlet back conceals

though it shines brightly in a world of green.

The current never deters

those who belong to it.

In the overgrowth of a trail

the world loses its language.

---

Rana Tahir is a poet and author living in Portland, OR. Her work has appeared in publications such as Poetry Online, Palette Poetry, and Quarterly West among others. She earned her MFA from Pacific University and is a Kundiman Fellow and member of RAWI. Her second Choose Your Own Adventure Book based on the show Stranger Things is forthcoming in April 2023.  www.rana-tahir.com