Windy autumn day—
 
the birches’ frilly gold skirts
 
have been blown away.

 
 
 

Deepening winter—
 
the beaver dreams of birch twigs
 
to quell its hunger.

Pocketknife

 
 
 

In the birch tree’s flesh
 
lovers carve their initials
 
with a pocketknife.

Roots

 
 
 

When old men stumble
 
on roots of maple and birch,
 
the crow’s time has come.