Birch Trees

are like huge slivers of wood
as perpendicular strokes
coated in white and

winter splashes another coat
on its natural primer, an
afterthought.

Shadows imitate bark
silhouettes, a covering

starkness masked in beauty.

Each penetrating finger
of tree is a brother
to other forest splinters

sky and clouds the ultimate
destination.

© Richard L. Provencher

Published April 2010
Paragon 111, Dept. of English
Memorial University, St. John’s NL
ISBN: 978-0-88901-422-0