tree (poem)

look at the tree outside
how its mass of leaves glisten in the sunlight
how it withstands, blooms, grows
how it sheds, loses, and heals
bearing through the trivialities of days
with patience, focus, and commitment

look how the tree reaches to the sky,
a hope – a yearning for light
look how it reaches, deep below,
grounding itself for strength
searching the elixir of life itself

look at the tree outside
growing through its damages, its scars
becoming its vulnerabilities
as the world continues around it

watch the tree as it sways in the wind
a rustling dance to its strength and flexibility
look how it grows and grows
never sure if the next gust will topple it
or whether it’ll withstand a century with calm majesty

notice the tree outside
how it sheds its skin, its bark
revealing a raw facade
before again turning that fragility
into a resilient armor

look how the leaves come and go
forever changing, forever turning
the flowers bloom at their time
the sun shines at its –
the will of the seasons
a time, a place, a person, a reason
just look at the tree outside

// written on the back table in donnie vegas, portland, oregon