By Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes
THE WISHING TREE
Need
Is migrating from all four directions
An unbroken procession
of broken lives
that pauses to tie prayers
on the wishing tree
Pleas for intervention
scribbled onto silk handkerchiefs
with tears
Invocations
sun renders unreadable
wind shreds
rain erases
A litany of petitions
outnumbering the leaves
censored by knots
Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes was born and raised in San Diego, California. He attended Herbert Hoover High School and went on to study Religion and Theology at the University of San Diego. His book Intimate Geography, published by Ragged Sky Press, won the 2012 San Diego Book Award for Poetry. Ish, as he is known, has also written lyrics for German musicians Andrea Hörkens and Thomas Roderburg (Tender Art).
Latest posts by Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes (see all)
- Word’s Out | Geo-Poetic Spaces - December 14, 2018
- Political Love Affair | Geo-Poetic Spaces - December 7, 2018
- Deer Tracks | Geo-Poetic Spaces - November 30, 2018
Photo and poem are both lovely and touching!