In winter this Cherry has gorgeous tiny yellow flowers. When it has leaves, you can tear one carefully in half, and threads of elastic in the veins will hold the lower half suspended.
Cornelian Cherry
In winter, yellow flowers of the Cornelian Cherry
shine through the cold air—
tiny lights that draw you in for a closer look.
Along its thin, criss-crossing twigs,
moss builds quiet cities,
mini worlds balanced on insect highways,
everything thrumming,
preparing for spring.
‘Tree’ is a name
for plants that grow big enough to notice.
This one has ambition in its wood.
By midsummer,
glossy red cherries will flare –
all the work of winter
condensed and polished
into brilliant sweetness.