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1881–1941

STRANGE TREE

Elizabeth Madox Roberts

Away beyond the Jarboe house I saw a different kind of tree. Its trunk was old and large and bent, And I could feel it look at me.

The road was going on and on Beyond to reach some other place. I saw a tree that looked at me, And yet it did not have a face.

It looked at me with all its limbs; It looked at me with all its bark. The yellow wrinkles on its sides Were bent and dark.

And then I ran to get away, But when I stopped to turn and see, The tree was bending to the side And leaning out to look at me.

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STRANGE TREE · Elizabeth Madox Roberts · Poetry Cove