You Were My Tree

a downy pecker veers left, to land in a 
leafless black cherry. the sky turns like
milk sours- darkening all but the horizon,
which is lit up like a drunk
delivering his punchline.

i see the invasive garlic mustard
which drives off the native spring
ephemerals, and feel powerless.

i long for snow ladies and starbursts,
but settle for this pink rock i found,
resembles quartz. it is salt someone
planted to draw deer.  

that last night i held onto you like the
handle of a trunk containing everything 
i owned. my thoughts now are spread
out like branches. 

i draw tight the collar of my coat i got
in Cleveland, where we would go for a
walk and not talk for miles.