ON RETREAT

1.

Snow falling
off branches

         Then,

the happy 
bounce that

comes from
letting go

2.

A blackness
that beats

brightly behind
branches heavy

with snow
A raven

lighting inside
a winter pine

3.

As melting snow

gives way to red earth

the sun climbs behind 

the spine of a pinion tree

Like a heart

coming out of hiding

it beams its love 

unabashedly 

through branches, as spokes 

of brightening light