Untroubled Gaultier Green

            Untroubled Gaultier Green

The May-time trees put on their costumes, green,

Green, green,  and greenish yellow, style.  A few

Are copper beech in color.  All have sheen

Of silk and satin, every one.  Their coup

D’etat is total like a Paris show

Composed by one couturier who trounced

All others on the catwalks.  Breezes flow

Through leaves—and every branch and limb is flounced

With taffeta adornments.  Models pose

With righteous trunks and even they display

A green of lichen right down to their toes.

The only nuance is the blue of jay.

  These greens refuse to dream of autumn red.

    They do not muse on orange and death ahead.

Phillip Whidden