more rings added to it
must have grown in height
towering for skylight
the tree is there all right.

on its age worn bark
upon the darkened stem
my nails scrap and search
if is there her name.

I etched it within a heart
her name a small sweet word
times have drawn us apart
forgetting seems so hard.

knew would wither that moment
on the bark would remain my write
warm in its place permanent
reminiscing in the depth of night.

there’s no trace of that word
but in the languor of pain
forgetting seems so hard
this heart can’t weather her name.