I watched an old manpruning apple trees in Decemberladdered during snowfallstraining for the farthest branchand realized I had not consideredthat quickening is a year-roundlifelong commitment to growththrough paring back
So youbygone year of wantyou my bygone sisterburied expectationsin awful post-truthIt’s snowing
Still I ascend the highest rungand start cuttinglimbs leggily reaching for sunbecause flowering requires tendingbrings fruit for sustenanceand only now have I learnedwhat fruit from labor really meansThat man has taught me a few things
For Mama Zen’s Words Count in the Imaginary Garden. My poem went long but I beg forgiveness as frankly that never happens! :)