to our Xmas tree in april

we left the fake Xmas tree
in the living room so long
that it came alive
this morning.
it's near the end 
of april & i think
this might have something
to do with all the rain.
maybe it rained so much
that the tree 
got inspired.
i smelled pine 
all the way across 
the house &
so i plucked a few needles,
rolling them in my fingers 
to be sure-- yes fresh 
evergreen smell,
almost edible.
i asked the tree 
right away what it was thinking
& what we were going
to do with it
now that it decided to be real.
a breeze rustled it's branches
which was strange because 
no windows were open.
i knew that meant
that the tree wanted more.
the next day the house
filled with chirping,
all sort of birds all
nesting in the tree--
tangles of branch beds 
on nearly every limb--
a blue jay munching cheerios
from the cabinet-- a swallow
basking in a sink full 
of water. 
i was so jealous 
of the tree that something
could have stirred it
to all of this, that 
the tree was so happy 
so easily.
i wondered if maybe
i should stay still &
let birds nest in me
if maybe that would make
it feel like a new season 
in a new place
instead of a tangle of
branches
i broke arms off the tree
& used them to make 
a nest in my bed 
i told the birds to come
& let me in 
on their secrets.
the rain arrived sudden
washing each window with beads
of water. the birds
opened the windows by themselves
& i picked up the branches
to find them turned plastic again.
inhaling deeply,
pacing the house
i hoped to locate even a faint
scent of evergreen 
to confirm for myself
it was here 
in the first place.