Oaks

It is a late fall. Usually by now, the trees have changed color and dropped a lot of their leaves. Stubborn old trees.

Still waiting

For the ginkgo

To change color,

Drop its leaves.

It seems longer this year

Than others.

Will they drop green

Instead

Of yellow?

Can they do that?

Sometimes oaks

Hold leaves,

Through the winter.

Stubborn old trees

No matter how much wind

Or snow

They will do

What they want.

I know people

Who declare themselves

Oaks,

No matter what

The winter says.

They hold on,

Wait for spring

Until new leaves

Push out

The old.