A mimosa tree, green and thin limbed, pushes up through
the snow. My grandmother brought the seeds with her
from back home.
Sometimes, she pulls a chair to the window, looks
down over the yard.
The promise of glittering sidewalks feels a long time
behind us now, no diamonds anywhere to be found.
But some days, just after snow falls,
the sun comes out, shines down on the promise
of that tree from back home joining us here.
Shines down over the bright white ground.
And on those days, so much light and warmth fills
the room that it’s hard not to believe
in a little bit
of everything.
Jacqueline Woodson
“Mimosa Tree” in brown girl dreaming
