In Response to Matthew Olzmann’s “Letter to the Person Who Carved His Initials into the Oldest Living Longleaf Pine in North America” by Steve Cushman

I was the one who carved his initials into the oldest living Longleaf Pine in North America.
Well, my initials and Julie’s too, which you conveniently left out of your poem,
which is a poem I actually enjoyed until I realized it was about me.
You’d think they’d erect a fence or some barrier around such a special tree.
Maybe there is one now because my knife-carving occurred 16 years ago,
back when I was young and in love and believed this love more important than anything else.

Have you ever been in love, Mr. Poet?
Have you ever tasted something so sweet you couldn’t breathe?
I would guess not because if you had you would realize that when you are in love like this
it consumes you, and you would kill to keep it going.
I’ve never injected drugs, but imagine the feeling must be like an addict’s need
for more and more.
So would I do it again if Julie came back to me, knowing what I now know?
Of course, I would.
I’d cut the damn thing down just to feel her in my arms again,
her lips, teeth there, nibbling on the tip of my ear.



Steve Cushman has published three novels, including Portisville, winner of the 2004 Novello Literary Award. His first full-length collection, How Birds Fly, won the 2018 Lena Shull Book award. Cushman’s latest poetry collection The Last Time, was published in 2023.