snapping trees

trees snap when the wind hits

ninety-four miles per hour

strangely, the type of tree, height

thin or thick factors cancel

each other out leaving the speed

of the wind as the determining factor

nearly all split under

the same degree of stress

cedar lace

 cedar lace-filtered sunbeam

delicate pattern of filigreed shadow

on my palm as i capture

master artist’s light creation

before it reaches the forest floor

            Van Duzer corridor

vehement

 tall, tall pines

side by side

their tops gesticulating

bending, twisting

arguing with the wind

morning after

morning after

pines still after a night of rain

drops coalescing at needle tips

and dropping one by scattered one

as the wind, tired, subsides

anticipating autumn

anticipating autumn

haiku

pines bend to the wind

gossip mountain laurel will

soon bare soul—and branch

            mjNordgren  7/20/22  Welches