Bonsai
no feature enhanced
but beauty of
the whole and
its container the
tree is not
deprived and grows
as it must
though slowly like
a wave which
gathers itself for
years there is
no completion only
process a lapse
which presumes the
most delicate design
Originally published in Aileron in 1988.
O at the Edges 
Wonderfully quiet…
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Thank you, Andreea. Those spaces between…
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Love the notion of design being presumed this way …
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Who or what is the designer? 🙂
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We just think there is one because it is too beautiful to have occurred by chance, no? This can go in a number of directions, at least one of which is a topic of frequent and heated discussions between my husband and I. So let’s just let the question hang out there on its own. 🙂
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I certainly have no answers and am all for letting the question hang out there!
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As we have come to expect, a superbly crafted poem! My skills are of a more limited sort, and I have to content myself with haiku such as this:
stunted bonsai —
the old haiku poet lowers
his expectations
🙂
Ron
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Thanks, Ron. But having read some of your other work, I don’t see any limits to your abilities (except your great humility and perhaps a dubious sense of humor). 🙂
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“no completion/only process”
This is great, and just like life.
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It is, isn’t it? Thank you.
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Bonsai plants are so delicate, aren’t they…
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Delicate, but often giving the impression of immense strength.
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Beautiful x
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Thank you.
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😉
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What a great subject for poetry and how well you capture its form.
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Thank you!
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Great verse!
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Thanks very much!
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You evoke grace quite beautifully here.
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Thank you, Cindy. I can only hope to become as adept with grace as the masters of the bonsai!
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“…a wave that gathers itself for years” is a beautiful line, even more powerful when used in conjunction with this tree
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Thanks very much. I appreciate your comments.
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This poem makes me feel quite Zen-ful. 🙂
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Then I have done my job properly!
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Superb work, Robert.
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Thank you. I always appreciate your visits.
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This is a great piece. Bonsai tree’s are so much like poetry in themselves 🙂
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Thank you. Yes, they are!
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