**These were all short, so I thought I'd post them together.**

[1.] "The Arborist's Dream"
The cherry tree, I dreamt, was blighted.
Its bark was bubbling up, frothing pink at each joint.
The disease was making it turn into a cherry soda, all fizzy.
I, the arborist, with my ladder climbed
and trimmed, and pruned, and treated
but in vain.
I could not find the source and kill it,
so the tree was going to die.

Strange creatures with their elven ears
converge and chitter, sparkle here;
on tiptoes so they dance, my dears
while their master dangles petty fears
"Hold up your lovely faces, darlings--
remember, no more tears."

One-winged they in circles ring
while the great white bird, it sings;
it spreads its wide, majestic wings
while inside its iron cage, hovering
"Violins, knots and puppets, darlings--
all are made with strings."