Prologue
Spring morning
a moment of grace
in the sun
winter-hardened soil
yields the season’s first chutes
Spring Suite, Part I: At the NJ Botanical Gardens
The twin rows of apple trees define a path down the center of Skyland Manor’s Great Lawn. They won’t blossom until May.
Many other trees already do. Daffodils, hydrangeas, and other plants, as well. All of which Mira says we have at home.
Why did we travel almost an hour to see them?
weather-worn stone
cracked statues across
white blossoms
photograph by Randy Jacob
first published in Image Curve, April 7, 2016
Spring Suite, Part II: Blossoming
The Ramos’ dogwoods are in full bloom. Cream petals, in the late morning sun — from out of nowhere.
sapling
swaying in a breeze
robin’s flight
photograph by Alexandru Tudorache
first published in Image Curve, April 14, 2016
Spring Suite, Finis: Apple Trees
The apple tree in our backyard has grown back. Dad and I trimmed it way back before he died. It’s full again, leaves covering its crowning branches in a mane of green.
Frankie’s step remains at the base of the trunk: a two-by-four we nailed just below the trunk split. The one he uses to climb while on base during our games of tag.
Like my own stomp step that I used to climb my own apple tree so many years ago.
small blossoms
a robin ascends
to her nest
more by FRANK J. TASSONE
photograph by Lizzie Guilbert
first published in Image Curve, April 21, 2016
republished here
Epilogue
dusk
temptations to relapse
into despair
fade before the first stars
of a clear spring night
for dVerse Tuesday Poetics–Sunny-side Up! Pubtended by lillian
COLLEEN’S 2018 #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 77: CHARM & TIME, #SNYONYMSONLY
#Weekly Tanka Prompt #Poetry Challenge – Week 90 – Temptations & Relapse
With Real Toads’ Tuesday Platform
Frank J. Tassone 
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