bareness

the tree in its nakedness
calls out 
as I walk past
with eyes that see 
yet do not see
feeling something akin to fear
I reach out
fingertips touching scars 
where shoots had broken out
in their greenness
flowers had come
with their promised fruits
bareness holding marks
of love's burden borne
with growing hope, I embrace
with ear pressed close, I try to hear
the rising of sap
pulled by roots running deep
and all I can hear
is the rushing of my blood

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