You expect moss in the woods, on rocks,

here and there.

And along the branch

where conditions are right.

Or by the house on the stack

of old chimley stones.

But it’s spreading under the Chinese Chestnut trees

and in wide swathes,

hundreds, thousands, of square feet.

Grass will argue in some places,
but the grass has surrendered in most places.

Not exactly new this year, but accelerated,
from decades of not spreading lime,
or from some fresh factor,
from changes in the climate?

It’s soft and pretty and can’t be mowed,
ideal for a graveyard.

Tags: chestnut, chimbley, climate, moss, rocks, woods