this maple has embraced
a keeper of cows.
(and horses, i suppose,)
and anyway, one march day
i found this uncle
and said hello
and looked closely at that wire.
barbed wire, once stapled into a young tree's truck
and for some reason
this uncle welcomed cold steel
and said, " i shall hold tight to you.
i shall help keep the cattle in" (or the horses, i suppose)
and still, today, it tries to keep the vow
though the rest of that fenceline is long lost.
and each spring
this old man
weeps maple sap
for a returning songbird to sip.
i shall tootle over to maine tomorrow,
and return late sunday,
wishing you a happy weekend,
stories, and good friends.
