Bare trees
10,000 fingers stretching skyward
to feel the winds caress
one last time
before their deep slumber
beneath the frozen mantle
in dreams of running sap
and tiny leaves dancing
in the breeze once more.
We are bare trees
8 billion fingers stretching outward
to feel the caress of humanity
if only once
before the deep slumber
beneath the verdant green
in endless dreams of yesterday
and tiny fingers reaching
to touch us back.
ml’24