and i wish you tarried a while;

seek cover,

for the winters are unforgiving.

right now i may look dead and unyielding

my hollowed out stem 

and ghoulish branches, 

all the way to the treetop, all tell that tale;

they have always tried to cut me down

and each time the axe landed

the agony was too great to bear

i do not know for how many summers

i will be allowed to stand tall.

the world has ended for me many times

and began again by morning.

maybe worth it for once;

some shade for lonesome travellers.

the world has ended for me many times

so believe me when i say

i am not beautiful right now

but i could be

you’d see, only if you tarried a while.

November 1, 2023