fog at first light

pale clumps of mountain laurel light our way

empty henhouse

all the wild birds are scolding something in the hedge

stripped of all focus

I don’t notice the hunter standing in a tree

October snow

I hold onto an apple core until it turns brown

where it lost a limb

a glimpse of twisted heartwood mosquito in my ear

weighted by ice

the laurel leaves turn pale-side up

heart-shaped hole

in the black cherry snag flying squirrel dung

ephemeral pond

the trees wear icy collars at the high-water mark

porcupine

dressed as itself on Halloween

honey locust

pods twist in the spaces between the thorns

ornamental cherry

now that it’s dead it can shine all year long

shadblow

blossoms lost to the heat in just four days