under the stairs
a spot of sunlight
caught in the spider’s web
Where?
the red fern grows
in the snow
Fleeting Brown Zebra
the autumn landscape
wears fern’s stripes
like a zebra hide
Autumn’s Gesture
a feather
of fern seeds
waves in the wind
Fronds
side by side
two greens
salute the sun
Fuzz
A fern frond
unfurls wearing
newborn fuzz.
Warrior
The green swords of spring unfurl
winning their duel with winter.
Stories
Like the grain in wood
the grain of decay in the fern frond
tells the exquisite story of its life.
Recycling
The bog reclaims the brambles
to feed the fern and bulbs.
Spiral
A spiral staircase from the forest floor
like an Escher leading everywhere and nowhere
all at once.
Herringbone
A harmony of light and dark,
the forest floor wears herringbone.
Hillside
The slope demands effort
while promising a summit view.
Ancient Ones
Fern is the dinosaur
who still roams the earth
waving its dragon tail.
Protection
The fern shades the baby bleeding heart
from the hot wilting sun
encouraging delicate leaves and tender blossoms
