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Trees in the forest of life
are populated with leaves
of secrets lovers and others
who have tarried in their shade...
Their branches have held
hopes swinging high and low
and their trunks have known hugs
of screaming joy and weeping sorrows.
Whether clothed in rainbow leaves
or naked as guest skeletons
housed in ancient necropolises,
many have withstood the aging
of the vicissitudes and inclemencies
of weathering times;
Others, almond frothed and moss-laden,
have fallen—rooted out and parallel
to Mother, Earth—Returning to her
all she had given: Secrets—
Ashes and dust—known only to Yahweh.
