Show and Tell

The Hawthorns are in no hurry
to join the forest rush to leaf
ample thorns but no foliage
though they're the first to shed at
the very cusp of autumn's presence.
From the crisp green shelter of
the woodland hemlocks and
spruce, goldfinches tease in
springtime trills as brilliant
as the sun beaming through the
canopy falling on trout lilies
colonizing the forest floor, their
heads the colour of that golden
orb, shyly nodding perfect
floral heads in competition with
the luminous sun awakening
deciduous trees, bracken and
the perfection of woodland
wildflowers in a succession of
colour, fragrance and form.