Rescuing Bare Twigs, by Joan Leotta

Photo by Louella Lester (Canada) 2025

Rescuing Bare Twigs

Small twigs—finger-like
on a thin maple branch
poke out
beckoning me
from the snowbank
I made by
shoveling our sidewalk
this morning.
 
What tree spirit
have I consigned
to that cold, cold place?
The twigs seem to move
plead for help.
 
I extricate
these fragile bits
of tree blown down
by the snowstorm’s wind,
then buried by me.
 
Once inside, I arrange
these two slim, elegant pieces,
in a vase on a sunny 
windowsill. It’s not likely
even sun and warmth will
be enough to sprout the leaf
buds lines I spot along
the twigs, but at least 
they know I appreciate
all their beauty --
bent bare branch and 
its fine, elegant twig fingers.
 
Joan Leotta

Joan Leotta plays with words on page and stage. She’s been published as essayist, poet, short story writer, novelist, and is a nominee for Pushcart and Best of the Net. Her poetry, essays, and stories have appeared in many journals in the US and abroad, including Lothlorien, One Art, Gargoyle, Verse Virtual, and Storyteller Poetry. She performs folktale programs most often highlighting her heritage, food, family, and strong women, and offers the one-woman show, “Meet Louisa May Alcott, Author, Nurse and Writer.”