japanese maple
the wood steps to my porch were / freckled by the rain
a young green tree with flowers like popcorn swayed
taller trees behind it bled into each other/ their leaves a plum and apple lattice
a chlorophyll chessboard, intertwined / no say in the seed who has sprouted beside them
it’s strange / the way the leaves glow so bright they almost vibrate / right before the sky breaks open