Sakura

Travellers in tandem

road and creek

mirror each other,

writhing along the mountains side.

Pavement carves its way

into the belly of rock

water patiently smoothes

down moss covered stones.

Along the creek, Cherry Blossom trees

stand like sentinels, branches

sweep up and out, reach

over the water to their neighbors

a living umbrella.

Red, pink and white petals cascade,

fill the air with heady fragrance

and lay like confetti on the ground

others splash into the creek.

Blossoms bob like tiny twirling 

boats before finally surrendering

settling down to

blanket the creek bed

-J. Anne Allphin