Flown

Close up photo of a bird’s nest, crumbling between the branches of a flower tree.

Fledglings leave the nest,
the last of the twigs crumble:
parents’ duties done.

Let it be

Close up photo showing new growth on a giant, old tree.

Dormant ancient tree,
ageing, greying, still standing:
life survives and thrives.

Wave

Photo of a tree full of bottlebrushes in bloom, against a cloudless blue sky, with a sliver of the moon visible.

Nature’s cheerleader:
waving red-green pom-poms high;
weeping bottlebrush.

Gone

Close up photo of an almond, still intact and on the tree.

Season’s first almond,
as smooth as bearskin carpets—
bird bitten too soon.

Play

Close up photo of a tiny apricot fruit on the tree. — First apricot of the season.

The game is afoot:
lorikeets and humans race,
spring sun births a fruit.