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Counting

your branches were bare just 
two days ago

i suppose there were signs of life
and i knew it was about that time
but i couldn’t see 
just how close
you were 
to shading my walk 
and hiding 
places 
of chirping and squirreling 
around

perhaps it’s strange that
i took the time 
to count the number
of months
that you will live in seeming fulness
before you drop these
greens that delight my heart

six, maybe seven

and considered the number of days until 
the days grow shorter 
again

i wonder at how the sight of new life
and the warmth 
of the late-evening 
sun 
on longer days
can inspire childlike delight
and a sense of longing and loss
in the distance of just one breath

or even half of the breath
the ever-present 
reminder
giving and receiving 
taking and letting go
in-ing and out-ing
filling and releasing

just two days ago
your branches were bare