Poem: VI., by Jay Erickson

let this surprising wind bend me

may it strip a few leaves and
crack finger-sized wood

but leave me this trunk
and these roots

i am not done with them yet

we have more suns to reach for,
more earth to hold

Photography by Attilio D’Agostino

The poem above is excerpted from the book BLOOM written by Jay Erickson, who wrote it after being diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer in 2013. 100% of the book profits go towards rare cancer research. Erickson lives in Pawling, New York with his wife and two daughters.

To purchase a copy of BLOOM, click here.

Reach our Q&A with Erickson here.