to casting my own shadow
upon green flesh
breaking ground
till leafless gray
groom’d my breathless limbs
for others to shelter
for inquiring minds to nourish
at my newest splendor
I am at home
lighting our way
across the mystic sea
of souls
that our whimsical tomorrows
might toast
his favorite goblet
and share the fun
of yesteryears
arm in arm
from friendships
to cosmic riddles
to labors of corpus and thought
to spirits bruis’d and tearful laughs
to solitary retreats
‘tis our love’s fault
let cast
an eye
an ear
and savor
their spiritual touch
their wonder
and know why we are
my hide
though bronz’d
by the seasons
manicur’d
be crawlers and flyers
and autographers
still holds fast on firm feet
generations
of admirers
of passing glances
have I outliv’d
and might someday
my leaves never reawaken
your memories
your snapshots
be bless’d
for making me immortal
