Feel the tree bark

Here’s another poem from How the Hand Behaves:

Go out to the woods and feel the tree bark

Dogwood, elephant grey , mostly smooth,

made small cracks.

Blue Spruce made deep ones, blueish gray,

hinting of moss.

The old Magnolia, intermittently smooth,

southern accent, waiting for those creamy blossoms,

genteel belle with speckled freckles, liver spots

on old lady hands.

Tulip Poplar, popular

for ropy twists, pretzel whorls,

long veins curving around the trunk.

Young White Pine – smooth,

not much to say…

Chokecherry – grey sheen, rings of wrinkles,

horizontal scores.

Tree whose name I do not know,

wearing your cable knit sweater,

gnarled, snarling.

Magnolia