JUST WAIT too hot to eat the late hours pile up at night to a toppling height with sleep only one of the possibilities a watch kept all afternoon from the hammock on the underside of leaves the forms taken by trees a squirrel runs a jay perches the maple overhead has thousands of familiar hands ants running up and down the trunk it can take the heat and the storm when it comes thrashed by wind it might lose a few limbs but so what it can take drought if that happens or floods of rain heavy snow can alter its shape but won't stop its growth all the seasons have some hurt but it has patience till relief comes only a bolt of lightning could kill it or a saw cut and of course old age but that is far off its roots are deep its branches high its calm shade touches me from a distance I stare at the leaves hopefully for though they are still they will show by their motions even the least breeze coming