It is foolish
to let a young redwood
grow next to a house.

Even in this
one lifetime,
you will have to choose.

That great calm being,
this clutter of soup pots and books—

Already the first branch-tips brush at the window.
Softly, calmly, immensity taps at your life.

Copyright 2001 by Jane Hirshfield from Given Sugar, Given Salt, (NY HarperCollins, 2001) and used by kind permission of the author.