eucalyptus

new leaves stretch

their fingers to the sky and the birds

nibble the blossoms in their sincere way of life.

the old growth underneath is twisted and gnarled

and smooth. it saw the sun once but rests in the shade

urging the new leaves to dream. sunlight dapples

lower and lower. bark is smooth and

beetles crawl over

the trunk.

they are

somber

in their

community

on

this

old

tree.