Shadow of the Maple Tree

He has been stripped to the barest of skeletons – bones bared

like the frozen, dark branches of the winter maple tree.

He stands humbled and ethereal, above the frosted tips of wild grass,

as each blade is beckoned skyward, through a plaid of faded memories.

He has prepared for the long, icy slumber, and dreams ebulliently

of his shadow as it covers the scattered leaves upon the valley floor.

He listens silently as the symphony of winter embarks on its finale –

and rollicks in whispered contentment for a springtime soon to come.

His balanced wisdom nourishes earth’s blackened soil – and gives promise

for a vibrant resurrection in the grandest of spring awakenings.

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“Shadow of the Maple Tree” was the winner of the 2017 Greater New York State Fair Poetry Competition