Miss Maple

MISS MAPLE

I watched her grow from small to tall.

This year I found the meaning of Fall.

Miss Maple standing near the window,

leaves displaying a red-hot crescendo.

Toward the sky she stretched her limbs,

looking like prayers of silent hymns.

Her dress a flurry of bright red—

a color I wished she wouldn’t shed.

I told a friend about her beauty,

“It could be a male, not a cutey.”

Googling—is my Red Maple a boy or girl?

The answer made my poor head whirl.

Too soon the tree stood branches bare,

autumn’s fallen carpet—cut hair,

naked from chilly days in October,

looking like a loser in strip-poker.

Surprised Miss Maple wasn’t infamous as

Red Maples are known to be polygamous!

My question was very serious—

She could be polygamodioecious?

Now I need to wait until spring,

peek under leaves for Queen or King.

April Ryan

April Ryan is a long time contributor to Northwest Prime Time (poetry and stories) and a loyal member of the Ongoing Writing Group at Edmonds Senior Center (Fridays 1 to 3 pm). Call 206-361-6733 are email ariele@comcast.net for more information.

SHARING STORIES is a weekly column for and about the 50 plus crowd living in the Puget Sound region. Send your stories and photos to ariele@comcast.net. Tell local or personal stories; discuss concerns around aging and other issues; share solutions, good luck, and reasons to celebrate; poems are fine too. Pieces may be edited or excerpted. We reserve the right to select among pieces. Photos are always a plus and a one-sentence bio is requested (where you live, maybe age or career, retired status, etc.).

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