dogwood tree

there’s a dogwood tree
outside my front window
as spring
has sprung in late March Alabama
i have waited for it to transform
for it to change from death to riotous life
i have seen other dogwoods
and red buds
and wysteria
and japanese plum trees
all in flower
the purples and whites
almost seeming to glow
from within
yet MY tree
just sat there
weeks after all the rest have blossomed
slowly the buds were forming
and slowly they unfurled
and are
just now
starting to show their
flowers
yet
this does not make them
any less beautiful
i do not judge the tree
for taking so long
i know
it blooms when it is ready to
it blossoms
only in
its own good time


©2014-Art Belliveau