Green lichen abstracts the north side of its trunk
Warming the snow enough in these early throes of spring
The willow branches lie on the surface of the ice
Fronds heavy with tiny, yellow buds, anticipating spring.

Denying every new snowfall obscuring the sunlight
The stirring of roots felt all the way up, through the ice
An empty patch of dead grass, bare earth encircles its trunk
Cataloging the warmth of the afternoon sunlight.