Birch woods

Whenever anyone mentions

anything about woods

birches swing into view -

those white paper ones

back on the farm back East

where every so often we walked

just beyond the barway mark -

pointing out a stately lady-

slipper or two as we followed

the low ground pine trail

toward the spring birch-guarded

like giant toy soldiers

(harmless of course)

till thirst-quenched we turned

back toward the open field

where young hemlocks nodded

to shy brown-eyed Susans

and love-me/love-me-nots

announcing our birch-arched walk

about to end - nonetheless

little need to talk ...

our hands locked tight

enough.

(c) Copyright 2000. The Christian Science Publishing Society