vine maples—

as the trail straightens

we fall into step

 

a white birch

cut for the winter—

storm windows on the cabin

 

English hawthorn leaves

rub against my arm—

a ladybug in your hair

 

feeling romantic

under the pin oaks

by myself

 

red chokeberry

in the overpass shadow

crumpled lotto ticket

 

black chokeberry

for sale at the nursery

we leave with nothing

 

purple chokeberry

the skywriter’s writing

backwards

 

California wax myrtle

that neighbour girl

who was mean to me

 

purpleleaf ninebark

how does she know

how much sun I need?

 

the alpine water fern

catches my attention

when the snake has gone

 

wilted deer fern clipping

an interracial kiss

on TV

 

as far as I can see

in the undergrowth

Japanese tassel fern

 

a long putt for par

out of soft shield fern

the jet contrail gone

 

evergold sedge

I forget which way

we came on the trail

 

yellow fawn lily

a stone on the trail

not from here

 

snowy woodrush

the gravel foundry ruins

now a golf course

 

my hand touches

greater woodrush

cricket chorus

 

poached egg plant

she tells me in her garden

isn’t a food

 

planting serviceberry

the park ranger

talking to herself