Explain This

Humid moisture underlines the air
in summer, and wood expands. 

In cooler weather, gaps shrink 
back into the grain. It doesn't matter

that the carpenter took 
accurate measure of lengths 

and widths before curing the planks 
then laying them side by side, 

or clamping mitre joints. It's not
defiance that buckles and undoes

the seams—something still lives 
that is of tree, though no longer 

green. Barometer of falling light
or scorch, of love withheld 

and given back, responding like any 
other body to its environment.