Growth

If it’s not too much to ask
take the burden away
and leave me with a lesser load,
one that doesn’t break my back
or bend me for all time,
or even for a day.

If it’s not too much to ask
let me stand straight, straight
as a tree I would have cut down,
straight as a post I would have scoffed at
as an imposter and tried
to push aside.

Even as it resisted me
I would have sneered at it.
Even as it stood immobile
I would have stood aside
saying, “I’ll come back
for you later.”

If it’s not too much to ask,
let there be a later. Let there be
a time to come back and this time
let me hug the resistant tree,
let me grow close to the wood.
If I can bind myself to it I shall

with these words: nothing shall hold us.
Nothing but tears on my part
and slow growth on the tree’s part.
We two will stand, we two will grow
until the day comes
to cut us down.