The Atlantic pines on Camden’s camgrounds,
the Adriatic pines on the beaches of Ravenna,
all the pines in the world wish they were the pines
hidden among the inland lakes in upper Michigan
where the trees listen to violin strings vibrate,
brass buzz, maracas shake, the fluid sounds
of air blown through the double reeds of bassoons
oboes gusting from cabins all day long, mingling
with breezes from the lake and in the final
concert by the world youth symphony, dancers
on the roof of the bowl, sun setting on the water,
summer ending on the Interlochen theme,
the trees join in the audience’s silent applause.