O lung flowering like a tree – Janet Frame

Focus on Frame!


O lung flowering like a tree – Janet Frame

O lung flowering like a tree
a shadowy bird bothers thee
a strange bird that will not fly away
or sing at break of day and evening.

I will take my knife
I will cut the branch of the tree
he clings to and will not let go
then the wide sky can look in
and light lay gloss
on the leaves of blood beating with life.

Of yes, tomorrow I will take my knife
And the light and I will look in
O plagues lung flowering like a tree,
said the surgeon.



I found these poems in an old poetry anthology from school. Unfortunately there isn't a reference for where they originally came from.