Receiving

Once, moose stripped the bark of wild maple
foraging for its sweet under-layers through winter.

Our own gathering was gentler.

Sycamore peeled easily.
Its wet, soapy wood revealed beneath the bark.

Stems were cut, packed tightly in a tin and made ready for fire.

A reused shortbread tin-
still carrying the image of a moose.

Almost by accident, the story came full circle.