Independent

silhouette of a leafless tree by the lake, with the pink of sunrise in the horizon behind it

Standing all alone
she’s strong and independent
a tree by the lake.

Scatter

Photo of a tree with red autumn leaves on it and scattered on the ground around it.

Broken pearl necklace
scattered all over the road—
scarlet autumn leaves.

Going away

leaf-less trees lining a single road in a village with the sun seting in the horizon

Far away from here,
into the depths of sunset—
wanderlusting heart.

Growth

Photo of a tall leaf-less tree with the tips of its limbs touching the electrical cables.

The teenage growth spurt:
trees shoot straight past their parents
twist into cables

Grandmothered

photo of a rugged limbed deciduous tree without many leaves

Wildly-lived old tree
shedding for her winter years—
slender, grandma limbs.