He held out a leaf towards me as if a fingered hand.
I held out a hand towards him as if a crenate leaf.
He reached out a limb like an arm towards me.
I reached out an arm like a limb towards him.
He bowed his trunk towards me
just like a shoulder.
I bowed my shoulder towards him
just like a knotly trunk.
I heard intensified his sap throbbing
like blood.
I heard slackened my blood rising like sap.
I walked through him.
He walked through me.
I’ve been lonely a tree ever since.
He’s been
lonely a man.

(adapted translation: Axel H. Lenn)