TODAY IN THE ORCHARD

Photo by S. Auberle

Today in the orchard

there is a red tractor,

old wooden box

hitched on the sled behind.

It stands alone, waiting

among twisted trees

bent with harvest to the ground.

A woman walks the paths between,

her worn coat sky-blue

in the gray morning sunrise.

An apple-pouch weights her neck

and she stops to tuck dark strands

of hair beneath a turquoise scarf.

Her skin is the color of caramel,

warm as her southern home,

but in this place she sees

only clouds, low hanging and chill,

and her bright colors can't hold

enough remembered sky.

Thin arms reach toward it

as she climbs a ladder,

plucks apples, makes prayers,

maybe, and the unburdened trees

stand taller as she passes,

rain now shining the apples,

sewing the blue coat

to her trembling back.

- mimi