there's a young maple
out back
that may not survive
another year
though it's had
a good/bad
bumpy few years
already
see
the deer have browsed
nipping off some
of the sweetest new branches
and more recently
scraped their antlers
repeatedly up and down
a small mostly vertical trunk
naked now
maybe bleeding
even at such a young age
but the maple has plodded along
and reached eight feet
tall enough to dress
a good cluster of perfect leaves
and the actual beginnings
of a color burst
not to be ignored
clapping my hands
at the deer
scares them away for now
serves as an applause for the maple
vents me as powerless
--- e b bortz
