Paraphrase of Ashbery's "Some Trees" by Steven Robinson

From: TheSteven@aol.com
Date: Sun, 28 Apr 1996 23:28:58 -0400
To: alumverse@dept.english.upenn.edu
Subject: re: Borrowing Ashbery

Dearest,

We emulate nature, here in the quiet communication of two people comfortable with each other. As we observe the harmonious relationships of trees in the forest, so we better understand that love is best when we are just quietly together. We hear the silence between ourselves, you and I, a "chorus of smiles."

Ours is a mature love, "no invented comeliness" in our "winter morning". We are secure and lasting. The quiet times we share, "these accents," become salient.

Do not be concerned, my love, that our devotion does not always cause need for us to speak, but look out quietly at nature and how long it lasts and feel ourselves together better.

And as nature gives us cause to feel, so does the poetry that describes this so well. Else you, the forest, our love, may have remained beyond perfection.

Love,

S

P.S. I'm sorry I didn't call last night, but trees don't telephone every day either.


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