count my rings

they come to count my rings

to see if the numbers match

and measure my bands for proof

the years I was watered more

a single round

thinned by one's drought

but still there, no doubt

the rescue efforts

made by a tribe

when they saw my value

stood by my side

through wind and hail

collecting my broken branches

to be put to use

and nourish my roots

in the earth's decay

and where lovers carved their mark

into my outer rim

my bark grew over

shrank each scar

to the size

of a graceful lesson

on the impact of sharp objects

and sharper words

they see I skipped no seasons

the dark, the light

and admire the space between

they come to count my rings

#growth #scars #poetryinnature #teacherpoet #trees #growthosebranches