This leaf-scorched tree
is the economy of broken temperature
taking the colour from the green
in curled brittle clutches,
the leaves are hollows
of the heat dome
Leaf tips that reached to light,
are now tinder piles
gutter blight
of chlorophyll ash fall
corpses palms down,
clawing along concrete
on singe wind, indifferent
as our volatile host is
paving our way in fire
Jessica Lee McMillan © 2021
