under the spell
of a vigorous pine rising
out of a huge stump decaying
into the earth

in the forest
on the hill
by the lake

she put on her coat
of leaf greens
and dark browns
and stood tree-like

daily
in the shadows
in the forest

one hot day
a dark breath
nudged her

out of the woods
into the lake

a dead branch
threaded through
her arms

feet rooted

into the sand
in the water

limbs leaned
toward the sun