Sycamore

Mid February, and the evenings are noticeably lighter now.  As I walked home, the air was clear and brisk, and the late afternoon sun lit up the light gray branches of the large sycamore tree that stands near Alton Parkway a couple of blocks from my house.  The smooth, gray and white patchwork branches that twist at random ankles and spread broadly make the sycamore one of my favorite trees.