by Sylvia Byrne Pollack

	And many strokes, though with a little axe,
 
	hew down and fell the hardest-timbered oak.
	"King Henry VI Part III", Act 2 scene 1

Whether it’s that mighty oak 
	hewn down by many strokes 
		with Shakespeare’s little ax 

or some petite capped acorn 
	destined to be a towering tree 
		(hats off to that!)   and to

the patience that’s involved
	the stamina it takes   blow 
		after blow   resharpening 

as you go    or waiting for the acorn
	to sprout   take root 
		grow through many seasons 

like a human learning how to be –
	the many blows absorbed
		the reaching for the sky

Copyright Pollack 2024