January trees

Stark, dark
sihouettes,
clean lines
unencumbered

by decaying leaves,
delicate patterns, integration
of intertwining twigs,
no swelling bud-knobs yet,
and distinctive species-shape to each
silhouette;
a few are smudged by spheres of mistletoe:
greenish tangles, dangle, slowly grow;
and, crisply shaven hedges,
sporting, sprouting from their ridges
branches upward stretching,
waving fringe.