winter: groundwater, earth, snow, sky . . . four strata transpierced by the black trees, empty branches upraised.
Creator Spirit, creature man . . . an inverted tree spans these, branches earthward, roots in eternity. white almond flower fleshes fair: mother, behold your son; man and cattle, witness the small body's bloom. this blossom's end, death, is for rich fruit, cull of creation's stratum. eating almonds, we watch the white petals fall skyward . . . we shall die heavenward too!