The gnarly oaks have stilled
not one leaf stirs
on my back, I gaze
at the travelling sky
through the shyness
of the canopy

even the birds have stopped
perhaps to let me hear
my heart and greening breath

but now a sinister hum
of a fly-swarm I cannot see
it threatens to feast 
on those dying, useless
parts of me

may the maggots take them!
let the woodworm chew through
the box that holds my
forbidden feelings
so they spill upon the forest floor

I want the springtails and shrews
to wet their feet in my grief
for the treecreeper to find a nugget
of my shame upon a shred of bark
and carry it skyward

the robin is back
singing his soft and shimmery
autumn song
welcoming me home
urging my return.

(Photo by Felix Mittermeier from Pexels)