Estival

Green canopy, room enough for two
bodies to stand as if under the first

tree of mythic consequence. Over-
head, bulbs of dormant sugar;

laddered calls of unseen birds.
Sometimes, drops of sap speckle
the leaves: meaning ours are not 

the only mouths here. Sunlight winds 
a circle around the cheek of early 
summer. It is our nature to be

wary, but poised to tingling;  
we are not  accustomed to tenderness
that does not require reciprocation.