O little forests, meekly

Touch the snow with low branches!

O covered stones, Hide the house of growth!

Secret vegetal words, Unlettered water,

Daily Zero.

Pray undistracted, Curled tree carved in steel –

Buried zenith!

Fire, turn inward

To your weak fort, To a burly infant spot,

A house of nothing.

O peace, bless this mad place:

Silence, love this growth.

O silence, golden zero, Unsetting sun

Love winter when the plant says nothing

Thomas Merton

photo lumpytrout