"the Mind’s Oasis eludes" by Paloma Lenz

​the lifeless arms of A willow tree
stiffly hover over a lake that
shoves every wave onto land
as thunder threatens discord.
it murmurs incoherent      promises 
of how to go to                  Before

​Remembering now,    
     the tree’s arms become outlined
     by remnants of the past
        the leaves from the first Valdivian tree              years ago, miles away
             superimposed on the new
slipping through the seams
                       of the Earth
            the fibers of the universe
                   stretching and ripping, 
                    twoworldscoalesce
       the dull routines of the last 
    abandoned for the forgotten vibrancy,
           the distant memory,
           of The willow tree,
     its arms swaying whimsically, 
              outstretched over pellucid waters
                               rippling, the zigzagged dance of turtles and tadpoles, 
                                    overjoyed tears falling from a familiar monochrome sky    the promi

                                                    peer in closely at water, 

         catch glimpse of self,
       bloated clouds
   petrified waves

A willow tree.

Paloma Lenz is a high school student dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. She actively seeks to extend the reaches of her mind by engaging in her interests, including reading, creative and analytical writing, and researching. Her favorite genres include magical realism, science fiction, and nonfiction. Some of her current scientific areas of interest are environmental bioengineering and astrobiology. When she isn't trying to bridge science and poetry through her writing, she is out cycling, canoeing, and hiking. She can be found on LinkedIn.