The master of sacrifice--
a sacrificial lamb
that was brought before slaughter
has always been my attitude.

Bearing the burdens
of shedding my coat to
satisfy the needs of others,
and when they come to ask for more
gladly giving them my chops.

Just as the story book,
The Giving Tree: give them my blood
take my iron, and take my life
as these will give them strength
to live one more day.

Could have, should have
bore fruits of knowledge
and the fortitude to shed
this layer of bark
to build strong houses of wisdom
for whom have forsaken me.

Instead lending them
my roots to brew some tea.
When asked if I had some more to spare;
I told them, "I am sorry but I am wilting away."
these people called me a liar
and started a fire within my trunk.

Even as thee became ash
I desired to do more
so with each exhale of oxygen--
I took in their ash and brimstone
inhaling their essence into the earth
to protect the world from their flames.