The leaves have exploded this week.
Two weeks back they were small brown buds
huddling against the nighttime frost,
waiting for sunlight.
Then the buds split
and small green extrusions peeked forth,
just testing the air.
Tiny leaves replaced the buds.
Miniature photosynthetic factories
took nutrients, sunlight and water
and enlarged the original blueprint
day by day
until now,
fully grown,
they dance in the summer breeze.
After 32 years teaching in rural Yukon schools, Dan Davidson retired from that profession but continues writing about life in Dawson City.