Jesus Curses a Fig Tree

“Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, 'May you never bear fruit again!' Immediately the tree withered.” Matthew 21:18-19

Today the apple tree unfurled its spring leaves,
green flags waving in the western breeze,
triumphant  yet again over withering winter.

I see small apples, unripe bulbs,
clusters of sweetness,
promised, yet undefined;

imagination or memory
is required to taste that fruit today,

but I’m not hungry
and not on my way
to the rapacious city.

I will wait.