Oak
February Poetry Adventure Day 7
Under the oakshade four explorers with sticks warm day in June
stripped of their leaves, stately oaks lift dark arms in supplication
I grew tall under the shade of live oaks long Texas summers
O ancient oak, who makes their home among your boughs and bark?
licentious lichens linger long seasons hugging homely oaks
snug within his cap acorn settles down for his long winter nap
cocklebur caps hold acorns like butternut squash and then release them
my pockets stuffed with acorns, my child-heart overflows
I come from the land of live oaks but we have no oaks in our neighborhood only maples, locusts, catalpas pines and spruces and sycamores. when I find an oak I squirrel away pockets full of acorns So many shapes and sizes long and skinny, pointed, round, cups scaly or furry every one a treasure
For more oak poems, see what people are sharing in the comments on Petra’s Note:
I adore acorn caps!
This post makes me miss live oaks! Their misshapen limbs are so different from their eastern cousins' straight trunks, but such a testament to endurance!