There was once a very young tree

Who had not yet understood

How to grow; but he smelled of fresh leaves

And the insides of his barks had not yet formed

Infinite circles, and the outside felt like

He always wanted a hug;

There was once a young tree

Who was beginning to understand

How to grow, and how it tormented his soul

For the sky called out to him, and so did

The grass, and he wanted to stretch high up

And far and wide; but oh, how that hurt.

There was once a tree learning how to grow

Who kept stretching here and there, and he

Always wanted more leaves on his skin

To look pretty, and deeper roots to never forget

Where he came from, and higher branches

So that he could spend more time with

All the birds he’d admired.

There was once a growing tree, who

Was so scared of getting old,for he feared he

Would no longer be able to do all the things

He was was so sure he could; and his leaves would

Fall, his branches would grow bald, and all the

Skies he had reached would shrink and he’d

Start mixing with the ground, and all the

Ants and termites would invade his skin

And start chewing him away from deep within

And the grip he had made with underground

Like fathers holding their young children

Would start to loosen a bit, and for the

First time in his life he would feel what it’s

Like to be scared that he’ll fall, and all his

Bird friends would have their own children

And move to a new house; and he’d sometimes

Think that maybe the humans too want him out

Of their pretty postcard picture.