they told me that I was meant to serve,
that I would grow among people to heights
much beyond theirs but I should never forget
where I came from -
Use your strength in favor of the weak.
Learn to heal scratches.
Never get too attached.
I have taken names for the sake of true love,
I have cried reading over people's shoulders,
I have witnessed deaths and births,
I have been embraced.
I once fell in love with a man
who sat on the bench nearby and
observed me for hours in silence.
His breathing around me felt like completeness.
I get a first sense that he should have been more alive, but despite some echoes of that I know that to feel a love's breath that doesn't box you in is rather refreshing. To serve requires love.. Haunting poem.
ReplyDeleteThought provoking poem, Kenia.
ReplyDeleteThose last two stanzas... Just magnificent. I want to cut them out and stick them on my heart.
ReplyDeleteKenia, I did not know in advance that you were writing from the tree's viewpoint - now I read it again, I can see it. I'm amazed at how well the perspective works on a metaphoric level.
DeleteThis is lovely.
ReplyDeleteOkay, totally not fair that I'm supposed to come up with something after Kerry's perfect comment!
ReplyDeleteThank you beautiful women, for your lovely comments. Should I have told you in advance that the persona in the poem is a tree or were you able to tell it immediately? I've added a footnote. <3
ReplyDeleteI didn't catch that right away, but it's so clear now, making the poem even better.
ReplyDeleteThis is just gorgeous.
ReplyDeletewow. this reads like an adult version of Shel Silverstein's book ~
ReplyDelete