Mysterious rain forest
limbs swathed in green velvet
scattered abstractly
fall from old age
or wind, rain, earth rumble
leaves shroud the damp, crusty ground
like a lace-covered table cloth
the angel of death
paints them brown
crunch under foot
sounds of crackled pop

Thin stalks stand ****
patient, wait to open
angel of life
awakens
seasons shift
soft cotton moss
enriches limbs of the rain forest
time to smell sweet earth flowers