Raison D’Etre

Eda Lou Walton

And if you are a tree
That bears no fruit,
Even a poison-tree
Casting its doom
With its shadow—
And yet are beautiful,
Colored with deep coolness,
Outlined with light,
Making the sunset
A framing of your graciousness,
The faded moon
An ivory comb for your hair,
You are indeed
Well-rooted in the earth,
Which knows the tug of loveliness,
And men shall pray before you
Though they die of it.