a nor' easter sways a whole-heavy

tree across grounds that dance

away.

so the plods of its rings can see to

underground thunder.

its Tsavorite registers in a buck's

eyes--having stomped prior &

during the tree's honorific sleep.

from crown to trunk it scrapes

its antlers along it.

shedding them in the thick of

woodland chandeliers blown out.

within cavelike craggles, prone &

crownless the buck mingles limbs--

for a while.

far earlier to rise & move on.