alone

is that tree
really me
standing there
without a care
standing stooped in solitude
without a wood
with choking ivy round my limbs
it's evergreen hides my sins
with wintry claws i scratch the sky
and steely nimbus as they race by
standing white and brittle bent
against the wind vicious vent
the ground beneath my feet
is weak
is goodless
is barren bleak
this seedless height
here i stand out of sorts, out of sight
but in the scene, in the light
fighting nature but nature wins
catching stars with naked limbs
dressed at night in a stark silver suit
covered in diamonds from head to foot
uncut, unpolished, unappealing
devoid of warmth, devoid of feeling
being distant, being remote
being stripped of every hope
out there where i cannot hide
full of self, full of pride
without a fellow tree
to reach out and comfort me
lonely, limp, lifeless ghost
worn rock face of the coast
bitter, desperate, looking free
from this sandy soil, this barren sea
to set my roots in rich soil
free of stress, of natures toil
to live, to blossom, to beam
to dress in translucent airy green
to straighten, to unfurl,to unbend
to become part of the wood again
to mingle and rustle and caress the air
to hold the bird and hide the bear
to shelter the doe, to have some worth
not standing aside on this accursed earth