Woodland Life

Dark scudding clouds
bruise the sky
where a moment in time
earlier the sun illuminated
trees in an ethereal green of
tender spring foliage
and spring peepers
chorused below in
the vale where
water flows and
beaver make their home.
Above, on the wooded hills,
naturalized dark cherry
and apple and hawthorn
thrive among the
native pines and spruce.
The fruit trees bloom
in bright white
and pink blossoms.
Beneath, on the forest
floor, bracken unfurl
and between them
the shy yellow faces of
trout lilies, purple violets
and secretive
Jacks-in-the-pulpit.