She couldn’t see the forest for the

trees – behind, in front, along

side – cedar, maple, oak, beech,

poplar, pine, yes, pine, mostly

pine, the pauper’s pine. Jesus

hangs most clearly on the pine –

white, red, Austrian, Jack, scrub. 

She can’t see her way out of the

forest. Jesus hangs here, there,

everywhere. He just hangs every-

where. She sits on the pine needle

bed and soon sleeps. Jesus climbs

down from the pine tree and sits

by her side stroking her forehead

as she wrestles with the demons in

her dream. She can’t get out of the

forest and Jesus just hangs there.

When she wakes, she sees her pine

cross necklace hanging from the

corner of the mirror above her

dresser. She puts it on, looks at

herself, touches the cross and goes

for a walk in the woods.