Arborvitae

Patrick Trombly

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The two
by the side
as tall
are swaying
Ma wants to
so they
the snow and
over this
Pop wants them
altogether-
it hasn’t
years.
anything about it.
them the way they’ve
We don’t need sun on
No one ever goes in
not even Paulo,
(and Paulo goes
It’s just odd, the way it
the back room and its
blocked by the
It sticks out so far
kitchen window on the
It is August, and yet
The rain and the wind from the
glass pane rattle and shake
and swing enough to snap.
were planted by Miss Philbert, the old
Before
And they were only three
the house, and
Pop says.
I was born.
the arborvitae were tall enough
the sun has never

That’s
room
they
Miss
you

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arborvitae
of the house
as the house
in the breeze.
trim them,
won’t break when
ice make them bend
winter.
cut down
let the sun in where
been for many
But he’s too lazy to do
I’d just as soon leave
grown to be.
that side of the house.
that room-
our dog
everywhere).
juts into the garden-
one window,
untended evergreens.
that I can see it from the
other side of the house.
I had to come in from the rain.
cold front make the single
and cause the limbs to twist
The two arborvitae
lady who had the house
us.
feet tall when our family moved in to
that room was not always dark,
That was six years before
But since I can remember,
to cover the window, and
entered that room.

the
where
found
Philbert,
know.