R
Robert Harrison
Guest
The Teacher
(An Adaptation)
During the day
Magpie caroled. merging their melody
With a singing impulse from silent gums.
And it rained endlessly and the forest wept.
During the night
The trees have spoken all night, dead leaves
Hissing, limbs creaking and whipping the
Storming wind till it howled.
And later
The breeze was soft as thistledown
and spiced with bird song, calling
from forest that can well do without man.
For man
Must listen to the voice of the forest
if he is to learn that which it wants
him to know.
(An Adaptation)
During the day
Magpie caroled. merging their melody
With a singing impulse from silent gums.
And it rained endlessly and the forest wept.
During the night
The trees have spoken all night, dead leaves
Hissing, limbs creaking and whipping the
Storming wind till it howled.
And later
The breeze was soft as thistledown
and spiced with bird song, calling
from forest that can well do without man.
For man
Must listen to the voice of the forest
if he is to learn that which it wants
him to know.
