Quiescent he grasps the branch of maple like the arm of his lover in sleep
There is no indication that if the branch were cut clean through    sundered at the point

of conjointment
that the maple would remain standing

The trunk would sense the small loss of bough
of xylem & phloem & transpirational pull

Bark would give itself over to sun & heat of day
cracking & cold of night

And he would be left treeless
with a single limb                          deciduous