Norbert the Norwegian Maple

It stood there since before yesterday

before last year

before we moved into this house 7 years ago

before I was born

before

         before

                     before

I don't know when our trusty Norwegian maple was planted

when its shining green shoots first appeared

when the little piece of metal was first put in

probably someone's sad attempt at collecting sap, something that doesn't work with Norbert

our trusty tree

bringing shade in the summer

greenish-brown leaf piles in the fall

snow-coated beauty in the winter

green buds that blow away with the wind in spring

branches, sticks, and twigs underfoot year round

Norbert

getting big

growing old

still standing

even after the huge storm when we first moved in

even after the other less-huge one last year

keep going, Norbert

we're cheering for you.

Calico Frost

VT

13 years old

More by Calico Frost

  • Revival

    It's a band piece

    weird, I know

    it's from last year

    and we only played it in concert once

    but it means a lot to me

    it reminds me of a lot.

    Of Webtoons and authors and demented circuses

  • Me

    How

    do others see me?

    Do they see a girl in gray cargo pants and light blue thermal quarter zip?

    Do they see a friend who loves them despite her crankiness?

    Do they see a quiet awkward girl who prefers books to people?