A Series of Poems on How Trees Wear Snow

How an Apple Tree Wears Snow

Bearing a heavy weight is familiar,
For my fruit can weigh me down.

Thus, when the snow flies,
I wear it like a crown.

My strong branches do not droop.
Or even sway in strong winds.

They stay stately and upright,
No matter when bad weather begins.

Holding several inches of snow up on my branches
Is not a feat for me.

There it stays, stacks of flakes,
I wear it proudly, can’t you see?

While the other trees bend down
In the heaviest of snow,

You’ll notice that I’m upright,
As all fruit trees grow.


How a Cedar Wears Snow

My branches called boughs
Are bending low, in a frown

Snow came fast, wet, and heavy
Making my boughs bow down

Leaning over, I look sad
Under the weight of the snow.

My scales are another type of
Coniferous difference, don’t you know?

Catching the frozen precipitation
On my tiniest scale

Outlining my bough to the very tip
Leaving human artwork to pale.

It is the winter when I,
A great Cedar can bend

And not break.
Still standing guard to lend

The Northern Forest, I call home,
To look like a child’s winter snow dome.


How a Birch Wears Snow

I’m tall and slender
With white bark that
Peels.

My leaves have fallen,
Leaving me naked and
Cold.

In the winter, I am swayed
Easily by the wind and
Snow.

When the snow comes fast
And is wet and heavy, I
Bend.

Dipping my highest branches
Low to the ground, laden by
Weight.

It appears as if I’m bowing.
But I’m not. My stiff limbs
Hurt.

The snow piles up on me
Making my limbs and twigs
Fragile.

I hope I don’t succumb
To the extra wet weight and
Break.

Spring will come if I survive
The winter storms and
Cold.

I’ll make catkins to
Spread my seed, blown by the
Wind.

Just like the snow has
Covered me
Now.

I’ll cover the ground with
My precious seeds and
Grow.

New birch for new seasons
Of growth after snow has bent
Me.