A Lady But Not a Gentleman

Deep into a warm winter the Japanese red maple keeps her crown of brilliant leaves as if to prove to the evergreens especially that big blue spruce he’s not the only one who can handle winter well. But then the rains come, days of pounding torrents, and the maple drops her locks except for the last three curls. The blue spruce is unshaken. He stands taller and glistens. He looks as if he's smiling in the pouring rain. Donal Mahoney