Found in the wood

The wood

Some kinds put down roots. There is a tree here for each of the twelve kinds, and every one carries the family face in its canopy.

round · spark

First to turn, and makes a performance of it. Berries by August, opinions by September.

conifer · orbit

Has been here longer than the wall and expects the wall to go first.

slim · breeze

Moves in weather nobody else can feel. Not nervous — listening.

spreading · root

Holds the widest shade in the wood and lets everyone stand in it.

weeping · sprout

Grows toward water and gets there. Bends at everything, breaks at nothing.

round · pebble

Green in February, which is the whole argument.

conifer · gleam

A conifer that drops its needles, and is fine about being the exception.

slim · slate

Comes up first on ground nothing else will have. Pale, quick, early.

spreading · fawn

Cut it back and it comes up sevenfold. Has been managed for a thousand years and does not mind.

weeping · wisp

Grows where people used to live. Flowers, then forgets, then flowers.

Together

Several at once

Five of the wood on one ground line: a row of trees above it, and below it, their roots.

One ground line, shared by all of them.