Cliff Cypresses by Dora Hagemeyer, 1947

CLIFF CYPRESSES Food from the granite Stone for the hungry root - Storm for the rugged shoot. What slow flame Struggles to triumph here Year upon difficult year? What desperate faith Writhes in these twisted limbs, Sings in the wordless hymns? When the rock splits They wrestle with each other, Brother contrives with brother For writhing’s sake. No peace can smooth or define A curve, a delicate line. Summers burn blue - Yet the torture wrought in the seed In anguished form is freed Torture and triumph! These for whom pain is duty Stand in their desperate beauty. Dora Hagemeyer, 1947