Sunday, 28 January 2024

The Giving Tree

 "Sure, I'll back you up."

Spoken as I break off the right branch
To be made into a display cabinet
A housewarming gift prepared for next week
Three hundred days since we last met

"Sure, I'll be there in a heartbeat."

For a midnight rendezvous
Curbing your hunger
I had gathered all my fruits
Bringing it to you still in my office attire

"Sure, I'll pick you up."

My sturdy trunk repurposed 
As a shoulder you lean on
When the world tires you out
When exhaustion burns you alive
and I shall burn together

"Sure, let's ride it out,"

Exchanging my leaves for the fuel
To bring us away tonight
An adventure for your delight
As I'm struggling for my eyes to not shut

"Sure, they will return?"

When I'm less than a stump
With my roots clutching hard
Holding on to the dried-up ground
For sure they will come 
                                        . . . right ?


*Inspired by my cousin and friends, for how giving they are, without the knowledge of how the other parties might treat them back. Thank you for being with me.

Irreversible Damage

Started with a gust of wind
Blowing debris
Blowing raindrops
Blowing scents
and then it stops.

Next accompanied with a little howling
of tin can clucking
of pebbles rolling
of tree and shrubs shaking
before it ceases.

But no one moves
No fence strengthen 
No pets secured
No alarms blared
. . . until its, too late

The howls and the wind returns
Ferociously howling
Continuously blowing
Rapidly flooding
Now every bits are gone

I had tried holding on
on the branches of love
love you had completely destroyed
with the tsunami of hatred
that you folded me in
when you claimed the whispers of the winds
as a mere joke to dine with wine

. . . so welcome to my haunted forest
        forgive me not for brushing you off
        be confused of my erratic attitude
        ... or none
        for you now I am but a ghost
        forcibly living, love a mere illusion. 

Presents

 Old Boxes Presents

I went home today
Boxes piling
Dusts rolling
Silence screeching

I picked up a box today
Bending down
Blowing dust
Coughing hard

I saw you again today
of books and clothing
of scents lingering
memories rewinding

I'll come again like today
Opening another
Revisiting chapters
Always remember