The Trees in Winter

With not a leaf in sight
unless a leaf forgot to leave its home on a branch so high
up that the branch didn't much care that it was there.

An architect at work couldn't design so elegant a thing
as a tree in Winter. Leaves of every shape and size to offer
shade and beauty to everywhere a tree is planted;
always admired by passers by and somehow,
when the leaves have gone, there is a sense of sadness to see
the trees bare with only the lonely branches against the sky...

When Winter has settled in at last, the tree is majestic and
brave and beautiful in its wonderful bareness.

The tree in the Winter is still a joyful and proud tree.

                                                                                                 Ruth Ramstad