when grief enters the forest

Hear the bluebells choir a hymn of delight

Drooped low, heads solemn, and watching the soil

As it swells with droplets, seedlings recoil 

Rain patters down and emotions alight.

A feverish clouding, misery’s child

Heralds toads out from beneath their deadfall

And chirrupings silence; hear rustling’s call 

Halcyon days where the soft fawns beguiled.

So climb the felled wych elm, slick from blue rain

Accost fired emotions, too wild, too few

Below the bowed trunk, webs crystal with dew

Spiders emerge and sing gracious refrain.

Cross isolation and shake its gnarled hand

That coward heartbreak intumesces here

But low is its cry by the milkweed tear

As rain beckons forth the beautiful land.