Of bare branches

I went out to sit in the back yard after supper -
a reprieve from teen spirit and gamer violence

It wasn’t cold enough to turn me around immediately;
not winter-cold, but definitely
need-another-layer-cold

so I had to get my relaxation in a hurry --
quick contemplation of naked trees
no leaves to rustle in the wind
just the clacking of branches
like dry bones
and those weird fluffy red maple flowers
falling down like limp sea creatures

It’s mid-May and still so lifeless
I trust spring will come
because it always has before

*

But then again,
this year has been different