+The hood on my old brown coat blocks the chill.
x Deciduous trees take note of how bare, scaly limbs
reveal a longing for leaves to fill the air with green.
– Men on mechanical arms stretch into treetops,
rev saws, aiming to cutaway new, inconvenient limbs.
+ Deep inside the dogwoods petaloid bracts unfold
cradle tiny inner flowers germinating stone seeds.
+ Children rescue fallen branches, plan to build a fort
I wonder if the parent trees will nod their way.
+ The esplanade planter bowls filled with pansies
passions of purple, yellow, white, splattering delight.
– A bare tulip-stem peers over the tea-cup faces
of blossoms nestled in convivial clusters.
x Let me see where new green grass will foot me.
+ Oh, slender tree, scurled bark, your trunk riddled
with struggles of green leaves,
x What appeared as dandelions turn out to be thistles
ready to grow tall shanks and spiky leaves!
= In spring the vestigial roots in my toes threaten,
itch to take hold of the earth.
