the splintering
of frozen trees
exploding
as the sap freezes
reminds him
of spreading his ribs
in a futile act
of showing
he has a heart
to those who don’t believe

the echo
of the woodpecker
pecking
into the pulpy flesh
of the sullen tree
to nest within
reminds him
of drilling
into his skull
in an effort to let her in

he finds nature
an abominable thing
for all of the
concurrent woes
within
his fledging sorrow
yet he carves
across his skin
the dreamscene
of fetid glimpses of home