Quercus chair on splintered porch
Watches midway paths distort
Senescence paints the tracks with rust
Dormant loops in autumn dust
Iron oxide lullaby
Rocking slow as seasons die
Ferrous dust on grain and glue
Songs the metal always knew
Cambium fails where varnish peeled
Lenticels of rust revealed
Xylem paths now filled with red
Photosynthesis finished dead
Iron oxide lullaby
Rocking slow as seasons die
Ferrous dust on grain and glue
Songs the metal always knew
Carousel horses freeze in place
Mirrored eyes reflect the grace
Chlorophyll now drained and gone
Cotton candy dreams withdrawn
Iron oxide lullaby
Rocking slow as seasons die
Ferrous dust on grain and glue
Songs the metal always knew
Mycorrhiza threads through bolts
Binding what the winter jolts
Abscission layer forms the seat
Where no small soles tap the beat
Doctor botanist records the date
Specimen seven ferrous fate
Vernalization waits in vain
Spring won't wake this metal grain
Taproot deep in gravel bed
Dreams of acorns not the dead
Phloem carries only wind
Final growth ring wears thin
Iron oxide lullaby
Rocking slow as seasons die
Ferrous dust on grain and glue
Songs the metal always knew
Oxidation sings to you
Quercus rocker rest now deep
Darkness sings the lullaby
