Living Tree Poetry

The landscape doesn’t change,
the terrains the same.
The challenges will test us as before.

But what has changed
at this threshold of the year,
moment, brink of everything –

are our eyes, surveying the view,
for a moment cleansed
as by falling rain.

What has changed are our hearts
desiring to put off the old,
and make room for the new seedlings pushing through.

And though the landscape doesn’t change
and the terrain will test our legs
and strength.

What has altered is the vision
with which we embrace the same.

And how we see each other,
pregnant again with hope
and birthing something new.

Ana Lisa de Jong
Living Tree Poetry
January 2019

“Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness
and speak tenderly to her.  There I will give her back her vineyards,
and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.”
Hosea 2:14-15