barbed wire

 this maple has embraced

a keeper of cows.

 (and horses, i suppose,)

and anyway, one march day

i found this uncle

and said hello

and looked closely at that wire.

barbed wire, once stapled into a young tree's truck

and for some reason

this uncle welcomed cold steel

and said, " i shall hold tight to you.

i shall help keep the cattle in" (or the horses, i suppose)

and still, today, it tries to keep the vow

though the rest of that fenceline is long lost.

and each spring

this old man

weeps maple sap 

for a returning songbird to sip.

i shall tootle over to maine tomorrow,

and return late sunday,

wishing you a happy weekend,

stories, and good friends.