Three Poems

Shed of their leaves by Susan Wray

Shed of their leaves, the trees now reveal
their gnarled black branches and the dun-colored sedges,
cattails and bracken offer a monotony of brown.
But in this drabness flies the blue-cloaked jay and vivid cardinal;
the red willow livens the marsh,
and the sun parts clouds to light halos around the blown cattails.
There is a house around the corner so fallen into neglect
that the barn has collapsed, showing its black whale ribs against the sky.
Sumac has grown through the windows of the front porch,
cracking out the glass.
Even the mailbox has no door on it
and the letters must bear the vagaries of weather.
A man and woman live there.
One day out walking I saw him come out of the house
and he was dressed neatly and his wet hair was parted and combed.

Susan Wray ~ 2007