plant your feet firmly on the ground
let your roots spread out
let your bark harden
so that children may carve their names on your trunk
that lovers may reminisce the time the scratched their initials on you
when life was simple and pure

touch the clouds with your branches
let your leaves wither
in the fall
but let them grow back
in the spring
let them turn green then brown and red and orange
all the colors
let the snow gather on your branches
white and stark against your bark

beware of forest fires
the flames that lick your green green green
leaves
and the men who carry
blades across their backs
shouting
"timber"

     grow, love
                            **grow