I know you hear me when I whisper,

On the darkest nights as

the standing trees shiver.

 

Listen to my half words, tunes — whistler

on an instrument we barely know.

I know you hear me when I whisper.

 

It’s barely a fraction but my lips fissure

and I see the branches about to break as

the swaying trees shiver.

 

It may have just been simpler

to let them all fall but even so

I know you hear me when I whisper.

 

I have yet to figure

out how much snow it takes to make

the sinking trees shiver.

 

Everyone else is a snowflake drifter

and while I hope you’re listening,

I know you hear me when I whisper

as I stand and shiver.