Serviceberry

Serviceberry

Soon, flowers.

Gray for now.

For how long will the dark bones
of the tree
have to take this snow.

What’ll this year’s crop of snows
amount to, months more, sixty snows more.
All winter long,

the serviceberry steadies its voice.

Later, white petals,
same tree full of white moths come to say

The ground is soft enough to dig
your graves.

Serviceberry

Serviceberry

Soon, flowers. White petals here
above smooth bark. Gray for now,

dark bones of the tree. Months more,
sixty snows more, could be hundreds,

cannot yet count this year’s crop of
snows. Later, surely, white petals,

tree full of white moths come to say
The ground is soft enough to dig.