Composition on Birch Bark
This lewd peeling away
of birch bark
this shedding of old skin
this rejection of whiteness
that warmed the trunk
throughout a gripping winter.
Flagrant peels roll
from upper limbs.
March wind flaps them
like skirts of Lautrec’s dancers
imperfect skirts striated with
lichen and spots where
sapsuckers plucked
their patterned design.
But where the child can reach
sitting on his father’s shoulders
the bark gives way to eager hands
tearing off wide parchment
like linen for writing
a poem on the copper
underside, a few rhymes
to welcome spring
with words that whip
winter on its way.
Mary Kollar
Mary's Room With a View 
Beautiful image and beautiful words, Mary. Thanks for the break from COVID.
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Love this. We are still in Utah
Ruth Warren ________________________________
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Lovely poem, Mary. It lifts the spirit during these times… and gives me hope of spring.
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Beautiful!!!!❤️👍
Sent from my iPad
>
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Wonderful poem, Mary. Gives hope that our collective caring for each other as called for by scientists will “whip” Covid-19 away!
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