Tracy Donohue

welcome traveler
 
you who touch the bark of a tree
and breathe with it
 
you who press your skin against the sky
and smile at a breeze
 
you who stare into the heart of a flower
as if nothing exists but the rose
 
man-made liturgies
betrayed you long ago
 
you left it all for
July clouds
for salt and sand
and tidal pools
 
faith is in the winter’s wait
hope in the morning light
charity in the dying tree
 
let preachers preach
we’ll be out in the garden
 
 

Tracy Donohue recently retired from teaching at East Carolina University’s School of Theatre and Dance, where she taught acting, speech and writing for solo performance.