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Quad-Seasonal Conifer

By Aaron Suranofsky

Seasonal depression is
a hillside of gray 
trees naked
color stripped.
The chilling wind a passing hand 
clutching around each branch, 
loose grip snipping the leaves,
fingers splaying a confetti of brown,
pencil strip boughs left to mourn.

Seasonal depression is
baring a foot of snow
on each straining branch,
cold,
lifeless,
blank.
Sun molding tears
into drooped spears of ice,
each morning sunken deeper.

Seasonal depression is
conifers peaking
their rounded summits.
Beaming green
from needles piercing
their verdant shades past cloaks of white.
Eternal conifer,
a soft shoulder to lean
when winter's too heavy.
The cardinal’s conifer,
humble it dries
its breathing heart of red.

Seasonal depression is
shrugged off by neon buds of green,
boughs unraveling,
icicles crackling
shattering
at roots held firm,
still holding.
On the conifer smiles
bright new supple spines,
ever stretching
to catch who'll be falling.
Barred Owl by Pat Frantz Cercone

Filed Under: Nature and the Environment Feature

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