Earthy roots grow richly through the humus

Trees, whose spreading feet embrace the earth,
waxing fat,
stand rooted in their shed glory,
as fallen leaves give up their lives to worms
and toothless fungus chews discarded branches.

For now the leaves are naked.
Letting fall their clothes
the earth is made again,
filled with the lives of dead things.

And when I drop the dead leaves of my heart,
uncomforted by coverings,
unconcealed,
I, too, stand naked to the wind,
and cold.
But earthy roots grow richly through the humus.

Aug 88