The surface withers,
to crusty thickness
comes your skin.
Softness dries,
goes hard,
like bark.

In like manner
does the tree,
and earth too.

But in cracklings,
ripples forth
sprouts of green
from beneath.

The crust awakens,
sheds itself,
casts its skin
from you.

In like manner
does the tree,
and earth too.