Vox Populi
A curated webspace for Poetry, Politics, and Nature with over 20,000 daily subscribers and over 8,000 archived posts.
Sister Lou Ella Hickman: Two Poems
crown shyness
instead of reticence perhaps it is royal courtesy
that some trees set boundaries with each other . . .
in the gifting of their respectful distance
they obey the ancient protocol of never touching
in their regal gesture of reaching out to other greens
then golds and reds . . .
yet there is touch
when the all too familiar winds
brush their seasons’ changing color
and when common falling snow or rain
embraces their silence . . .
again a touch in spring the hush of love
as the sun caresses their branches into life . . .
this small space
this halo of air around each tree . . .
a visitor in this vast majestic forest
i
look up
to discover again
there is a sky
Note: Crown shyness happens when the tops of trees do not touch each other thus forming a canopy with channel like gaps.
~~
consummation
earth will have her own way with hunger
green springing up devouring light
roots singing down into darkness
seeking water
rivers hurling themselves to the sea
that, too, is hunger
tides eating up shores
falling and rising
teased by the moon
and the mountains mute in their mystery
repaying the eagle and the forest
everything hungers here
even the sand mingling with wind
scours then savors all into nothingness
remember
it is not their plenty or scarcity that we honor
but desire
~~~~
Copyright 2025; consummation first appeared in Christian Century.
Sister Lou Ella Hickman, OVISS is a former teacher and librarian whose writings have appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies. Press 53 published her first book of poetry in 2015 entitled she: robed and wordless as well as her second, Writing the Stars on October 4, 2024. She was nominated for the Pushcart Prize in 2017 and in 2020.
Discover more from Vox Populi
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Such thoughtful regard for the natural world in these fine poems.
LikeLike
What wonderful poems–I especially admire “consummation.” “remember it is not their plenty or scarcity that we honorbut desire”
Wow, yes!
LikeLike
Wow, yes! I like the enthusiasm, Meg!
>
LikeLike
Two remarkable poems that help bring awe into our world. Many Sisters have been trained well to write, and here she lets her creativity point us to a powerful work of natural spirituality.
I’m especially intrigued by Sister Lou Ella’s use of W.S. Merwin’s style, without punctuation or capitalization, except her use in consummation of ellipses instead of stanza breaks. That: food for thought.
I’d never heard of crown shyness before, but it would make a good title for a poetry collection, wouldn’t it? Maybe for her next one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well-said, Jim. Thank you.
>
LikeLike
Unusual and timely and beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I agree.
>
LikeLike
What remarkable poems.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Aren’t they?
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love these lines, their “silken ties of love and thought.” What a wonderful poet we have on our hands, and a stable mate (perhaps in several ways) from Press 53!
Thankyou for this Vox Populi!
LikeLiked by 4 people
That’s right, Sean. She’s your Sister from Press 53.
Michael Simms Publisher/Vox Populi Founder/Autumn House Press Author/Nightjar (poems) Author/American Ash (poems) Author/Strange Meadowlark (poems) https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/strange-meadowlark-michael-simms/1143600725?ean=9781933974538&fbclid=IwAR1XYpwzY8Hjq7SIbYsdVXSxC1i38_40sCA7mcenKvaSLxxwxu72tEdQ5FQ Author/Bicycles of the Gods: A Divine Comedy (novel) Author/The Green Mage (novel) https://madvillepublishing.com/product/green-mage/ Author/Windkeep (novel) https://madvillepublishing.com/product/windkeep/
LikeLike
Such clarity in tone and imagery — such magic in nature so humbly noticed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I like the celebratory quality to Sister’s poems.
>
LikeLike
Lovely poems!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Aren’t they?
>
LikeLike