Unwelcome wind undressed Chestnut’s golden gown, stark, stripped bare to bark.

Gold-leaf garments scarred where bound, torn, paper-thin to ground.

Bitter breath ground with grating gravel-rain, penetrated to vein.

Ice sheets suffocate bare til broken down, tarnished gold to brown.

Sodden remains surrender to green-tip, wounds healed, the winter yields.

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“Brief: 366/2020 project, prompt ‘Leaf’