"The Bare Tree", de William Carlos Williams

The bare cherry tree
higher than the roof
last year produced
abundant fruit. But how
speak of fruit confronted
by that skeleton?
Though live it may be
there is no fruit on it.
Therefore chop it down
and use the wood
against this biting cold.

(in Antologia Breve, Assírio & Alvim, 1995, org. e trad. José Agostinho Baptista)