Poetry from a prize winner

Ernestine Cobern Beyer
with thanks to Barbara
Malley, whose children's
book of her mother's poetry
will be out later this year:)
Life
O Life that guards with care,
immense,

The flickering ferny frond,

When ice with diamonds
cements

The pale and fluid pond;

O wondrous and persistent
spark,

O quenchless breath, divine,

That keeps alight through
winter's dark

The candle of the pine!

Incredible, persevering Life

That wakes the frozen tree,

And fills with its insatiate strife

Philosopher and flea!