Defence

Photo of a row of gumtrees along a main road.

The earth’s infantry,
defends homes and livelihoods:
rows of native trees.

Day moon

Photo of gnarly tree branches with a half-moon perched on the tip of a branch against a clear blue sky.

Tip of a tree branch—
broken nail hangs from the sky:
half-moon spectacle.

Shaken

Photo of two deciduous trees, with most of their leaves fallen on the ground around them.

Autumn to winter—

grim reaper rattled the door,

deciduous trees.

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.

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