COUNTERPOINT
by David Radavich
The cherry trees
this time of year
live in carnate glory.
White tinged with pink,
they open their rebuke to all
the terrors of this world—
deftly delicate and free,
visible to everyone
rich or poor, transgressive
or obsessed with sin,
all eyes are welcome
in the quiet breeze
despite the bombings,
torture, cruelty
they carol now,
angelic branches waving
away all other pain
that will not bloom
in this green paradise.