Greening across a chestnut snag in Spring
When Winter turns away from shining fields
Moss pushes up fruiting bodies, beaming
In intelligent capsules, neat and sealed
Beneath this moss-skin the tree gives up ground
Softening appears between lines of grain
The tree's return to earth leaves a red mound
So rich and moist the process starts again
Rhododendron sprouts with flat oval leaves
Rootling deep in slow sunk loam, white in red
Fiber along fiber, neither bereaved
In this newness of spring in chestnut beds
Life along lines of moss, new leaves and limbs
Rise up and bow to holy chestnut hymns
