• Published on

    The Builder

    Picture

    ​A gentle ripple spreading wider
    Belies the beaver's power;
    A floating head no less deceptive
    Than tip of berg much lower.
     
    You may not see the stoutish body
    Nor glimpse the tail so flattened;
    Submerged they move with slightest hinting
    At ponding works emboldened.

    The pond established owes its being
    To person small but awesome:
    The beaver cleaver—mighty builder,
    With industry most fulsome.

  • Published on

    the aspens

    Picture

    ​Aspen temple, hall of mysteries,
    Hidden deep in forest high,
    Ever share your calm and beauty,
    Filtered down to hikers nigh.

    Golden light through leaves now yellow
    Shifting walls approximate.
    Trunks uplifting point to heaven,
    Natural columns bearing weight.

    Limestone white these structures rising,
    Barks expressing purity.
    Sequin-like the leaves do whisper;
    Secrets given silently.

    Joists reside beneath the surface,
    Joints and junctions, like a roof.
    Upside-down this glorious building, 
    Oneness there—a living proof.

  • Published on

    Virginia creeper

    Picture


    Virginia Creeper, genius creature,
    Painting walls with endless brush;
    The verdant hues in spring and summer
    Crimson turn in Autumn's rush.

    The fences graced with natural bunting
    Beam their thanks beneath the red;
    Tall pines alike are decorated;
    Christmas trees alive instead.

    All peaks are scaled, no slope too daunting,
    Steepness met like cheering light!
    Self-engineered with pads adhesive,
    Super-plant, it conquers height.