I stand beyond the month of

late spring,

and cannot fail to note an unusual

thing:

For along with the Cyclamen, Muscari

and Daffodils,

The earth-attached clouds have returned to life.

True, a Cherry has been unfurling flowers

since November;

Yet did not waver whilst other monuments

swept forth:

The Hazel with primrose catkins whilst it was

still cold;

Followed by Swept-Railway Poplar with catkins

crimson gauze.

Two more members of Populus catkins bear;

But their catch lay in their foliage,

fresh like a new season;

One with foliage more reminiscent of an

Acer autumn;

The other with leaves of silver dusted with

crystal snow.

During this, the Cherries began their floral dance,

Rose Snow,

Luscious Pink and Dove White all processed;

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Covering the ground below in a snow

that did not melt.

Flakes of petals rather than crystal,

That made me wish that they remained till

the Summer Month.

The Cherry Flowers continued in the upward blooms

of the Aesculus,

Its grand candle-spikes like steeples of blossom.

Contrasting with the falling bunches of Lady Acer’s

arrival,

Chartreuse clusters like the fruit of vines.

Pendulosity was also found in a member of the

Salix tribe,

A weeping fountain with waters of gold;

And in the blooms of the clean-limbed laburnum,

Sprays of lemon from branch to ground.

Yet even as the grey-barked member of House Olive

joined those of Fagus and Tilia in rising for May;

Another cherry still had its blossom whilst the rest had fallen;

Green as the month rather than fresh snow

or enticing sugar,

And one or two like they wanted to soar into

the clouds.

A cherry not-often-seen;

But still around if you know

where to look:

The children of Ulmus:

Wych,

Smooth-leaved and

Huntingdon;

Elms with seed pods like

Green Cherry Blossom.