MAPLE TREE
by Chrissy Engstrom

Look at it for a bit...
that stick of a tree
holding itself against
the wind. it's a baby still,
but stronger than you or me.

It stands alone and naked in the
winter beneath the snow...
cloaked in leaves at high noon in
mid-summer.

You or I would surely die of
frost-bite or heat stroke if forced
to endure such conditions
but look at her... she grows stronger
and thrives in such a harsh world.

She stands so naked and proud,
even as the parasites rape her
of her fruits... even as the
children molest her branches
and turn her into a playground.

She stands as tall as gravity
will allow, and stands so naked
and self confident against the wind.
It's a thing of beauty to watch the
maple grow. It's so common that
we rarely stop to admire,
but in truth, we could
learn much from a
baby maple.

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