I Thought He Was Holding a Shield

​I thought he was holding a shield. It was
A light. It showed the skeleton
Of a leaf. Sometimes an 
Entire tree glows in the sun.

And how sweet the inner and 
The outer lights together, how
Fine when human beings walking
Home see the muscled bough

Of a sycamore. You cannot
Speak to a tree of compromise.
There is no compromise. The goal
Of goals is to shine before your eyes

The light of the first thought, the thought
Of tree trunks, from which branches
Hang with leaves that reflect sweet inner
Light. And the white of avalanches

Exposes the red soil, as sages
Learn when they become elders.
Even at night you can see the gold
Blended to the silver by welders.