April Forest: Derik Hawley and David Billings

April Forest

A tree in April is a splendid thing,

her boney branches fan out their design,

now free of winter snows for coming spring,

yet birds’ nests to her still are not assigned.

Lifeless she seems, yet within her sap

flows a hidden power we can’t see,

now she’s wakened from her frozen nap,

and thus her  promise: May days we’ll soon see!

But now she stands, devoid of foliage,

roots slowly suck ooze from the thawing ground,

such sweet long instants seem a privilege,

before the forests roar with leaf blown sound.

        The bones bloom tall as stark shadows contrast

        the spring buds which clothe bare Nature at last.

©  By David Billings All Rights Reserved April 7, 2012