Japanese Maple

inside...

on a branch...

of the newly flowered

Japanese Maple,

a male Cardinal sits;

his orange beak

prunes his feathers

just as the Maple was

pruned weeks before;

perhaps...

a nest...

the bird couple will make

or perhaps...

they will approach

another tree

not so close

to the road offering

greater protection

and isolation;

curious...

it is to me...

that just a few weeks ago

I considered

this Japanese Maple tree

and in my hesitation,

thought it best

to let nature

take its course again

as a few years ago

a late frost had

just about killed it

we all had thought.

9Apr17