My fingernails scratch against bark as
I mount the majestic crown
That reaches high, soaking up the sun’s rays
My hands and feet slide into thick, sticky sap
Ants and honeybees bustle around the fruit
Sparrows perch on twigs, feeding their nestled young
I sit
The tree cradles me in her soft embrace
The sound of wind whispers through the rustling leaves
I grab an apple dangling over my head
The sanguine skin is beaded with morning dew
The flesh as crisp as the air
I look up
And only see shimmers of light through
Branches loaded with summer’s sweet success
Yet, with winter’s insidious approach,
Golden leaves fly away, revealing slices of the sky