Maple Tree

"Maple Tree"
emerging from the grasp of winter gone
a bud, the start of a greeny cycle
another, a promise of things to come
a season of cold, of death, of slumber

the long hot days of sunny abundance
feed the bark, the muscles, the veins, the cells
water, when recieved, is a joyous gift
it cools a canopy of thirsty leaves
it quenches the thirst of the wooden beast

the dry, crisp wind rustles the leafy arms
the hands shake, grasping for nothing at all
detaching, the plummet back to the earth
destined to repeat the cycle of growth
the barren branches look on down with grief

empty, it shivers, with a crown of snow
a hibernation that looks to the light
creaking and sighing, bare arms and body
shiver at the wind, the whisper of cold
with springs approach the tree begins to stir