silver

PEAR TREE

SILVER dust
lifted from the earth,
higher than my arms reach,
you have mounted.



O silver,
higher than my arms reach
you front us with great mass;




no flower ever opened
so staunch a white leaf,
no flower ever parted silver
from such rare silver;

O white pear,
your flower-tufts,
thick on
the branch,
bring summer
and ripe fruits
in their
purple hearts.

"H. D." (Hilda Doolittle) 1886–1961