Election Day

Muir Woods, February 2020, photograph by William Newton

Over the hill in Muir Woods, a cathedral:

as saplings,

they saw Coastal Miwok come

— lightly, caring for the spirits

and felt the Roman Empire go

— not lightly

redwoods live 2,000 years,

holding hands underground,

roots knitting tree to tree, trunk to earth

— a primal embrace

redwoods meditate

grow

feel pain

and survive

they are our quiet friends

on Election Day