The young pyramid towered,

Boughs layered spoke on spoke,

Foliage weave-and-fan cloaked,

Octaves of birdsong showered.

Now centuries furrow fibrous bark—

Peeling cinnamon raw and rust,

Knobby elbow branches thrust

In partial light, silhouette stark.

The leaning trunk and swelling base

Distort ancient geometry,

Brown creepers scale crevice face,

Small branches sporadically

Break and sweep, a late summer trace—

Palm-rubbed twigs breathe pungently.

Credits:

Tall incense cedars courtesy of Daniel Mayer

Black-capped chickadee courtesy of Alan D. Wilson, http://www.naturepicsonline.com

Brown creeper courtesy of Alan Vernon