Winter Limbs
By Marcia McLaughlin
Bordering road and farm
statuesque, boughs stretched upward
big leaf maple proudly
displays her bare bones
Draw near and see
her branches are not barren
but gracefully draped
with moss, lichen
home for insects
food for birds
Her roots blanketed
with last summer’s leaves
curly, brown, slowly absorbing into soil
returning nutrients to the tree
a cycle of life
Winter tree stands, exultant limbs
surging skyward as if in prayer
Do we dread our winter limbs?
Perhaps we too could reach heavenward in joy,
grateful for our life’s leaves
blanketing our roots
bringing potential for new growth
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