branches heavy with promises left by lovers
who press against
her canopy whispers back
all are lost to the night
quiet
night cold and still
leaves sparkle under street lights
she sings a lullaby to sooth us all to sleep
on hot summer days she takes up the whole sky
watches over us
school students by the hundreds pass under
dignitaries pass by
she is all knowing and offers so much
longing to be touched
to make nets and string
contented to ring pink bells for spring
rain glosses her leaves turning them deep green
wooden seed pods ahull down deep gutters
she smiles as we dash and weave
at other times sorrowful because most do not see
our beauty in our street
© Barrina South, 2024
