National Poetry Month: Poems of Carlos Sanchez

Today, as part of our ongoing celebration of National Poetry Month, we are featuring two poems by Innocence Project client Carlos Sanchez.

New Moon


Blue moon, winter sky

At the end of my journey

Spring’s moon emerging

Ode to the Middle Tree


The middle walnut tree in Eastern Yard

Is slowly being killed by thirst

For caustic ends.

 

Its patchy summer shade can be

A poor relief from bitter ardent rays

But underneath its leaves we find some peace.

Its seasoned nuts when aged

Have struck our heads

But then we crack and split their shells to eat their seeds.

 

The birds that perch among its leaves and sing

Have also shat upon our heads—

A fate we bear

Because this walnut tree has brought

A sort of pertness to this dismal place.

 

Behind the wall there’re not too many sites

Where trees are left to grow.

Where we enjoy

The fruitage that a tree begets, its vital air.

 

The man would like to kill the walnut tree

So he can cut it down to see

Asphalt instead.

To stop this death, we push and fight

His lust to see this tree hewn down and dead

With concert sounds and lots of water jugs

Our efforts give us hope

That we can reap

The good and bad the tree provides for years to come.

In addition to his longtime counsel at the Innocence Project, Mr. Sanchez is also represented by Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP on a pro bono basis.