As A Child

Many parish members remember Bill Hunt, our local poet. He is now 88, and moved to Dartmouth, MA, to live with his daughter about a year ago. I love this simple, earthy poem he just sent me!
— Christiane Marks

AS A CHILD
We entered dirt with both hands
We entered as into a tunnel
We were on our knees
We had been given earth
And we made our way down
and down on all fours--recall?
Our two hands reached into earth

We were given work:
Help trees push upward
Help the oak, the elm, the apple
tree rise at our level
Then watch them rise above
Us.
We were soldiers
We soldiered thus for trees
On our knees on the earth
We were given childhood.


William Hunt, August 2022