Winter Tree

A lot goes on behind my back.

A row of icicles pulling at the eaves

Grew three inches before I thought to look;

A snow falling an evening through

Contrived knee-depth before I knew.

I see what’s done. The doing is concealed.

Things happen I know nothing of,

But once I saw a walnut shed her leaves

All in haste, within a half hour’s time,

And shift her season, become a winter tree,

Stand bare of foliage and her body free,

The last bough stark, the farthest twig revealed.

A lot goes on while my head is turned,

And nobody bothers to watch and hallo “Look!”