Burden
A branch of brittle twigs
browned and shrivelled leaves
drift away on
cool autumn wind.
Bark sags, droops,
mounds at trunk's base
layers shed
from summer assault.
A heavy limb remains
deadwood bowing earthward
threatening to topple
the trunk.
Hollow splintering silences
bird-song-filled forest
the limb separates, crashes
squashing life below.
Old wood deteriorates
feeding new organisms.
Tree, no longer burdened
produces new shoots.
© A. R. Levett 2017
browned and shrivelled leaves
drift away on
cool autumn wind.
Bark sags, droops,
mounds at trunk's base
layers shed
from summer assault.
A heavy limb remains
deadwood bowing earthward
threatening to topple
the trunk.
Hollow splintering silences
bird-song-filled forest
the limb separates, crashes
squashing life below.
Old wood deteriorates
feeding new organisms.
Tree, no longer burdened
produces new shoots.
© A. R. Levett 2017
