Almonds

The poetry of almonds is the poetry of warm-veined woody petals shaped like toasted teardrops. Soaked overnight an almond readily relinquishes its slipcover of skin. Reveals two halves joined like smooth pale palms in prayer. Between them the vision of an almond tree in bloom, slender and bridal. For an almond carries like its own silent consonant, the memory and possibility of a tree. Present even if unpronounced.