.......................Before climbing high enough

.............................to see her............ there is
.....................the limit of trees .....................black

................................shaggy shapes ....................scattered
...over the white dolomite

........................................................they are the oldest
...................................................................................and darkest

............................................growing

............nearly without company

..on the dry
....porous
and alkaline soil ...........they live
......................................................longest where

........................they are most lonely
................................................................and die leaving

...millennial snags........ that bleach
orange-tan ................................ground sharp

..............................and clean by the sand
.


--Avocet, 2007