the cherry tree

I miss the friend you once were

the tree in my front
once my height
delicate, letting world through its spaces

grew to climbing branches
a bed of boughs where I spent days
shielded in leafy cloud
watching sky through its spaces

higher still
wider, reaching
where I'm not sure I could climb, or should
bough-bed spread

at night I tough its tips
sometimes to my lips and whisper
hello, how I miss you!

a dry leaf clings to stem
as new buds shoot their hard red hooves
off the tips I touch
as I try to shush you into slowing down
praying you won't outgrow me

later in night I dream they have taken you away
holes on you, in you
carved out

I cannot stand beside you and not be with you
I will climb again

will you give your right arms for me?
will it be enough?
I need you
I don't want to be without

you
staining me red with your skin
fluttering me pink with your blossoms
and when I am dropped, soft
white as petals on moist grass
looking in your arc above I know love

I still see the world through
when winter bares you
the sparkle of ice an ornamented translation
sky when I search through green and flower,
standing on your dry, dropped connections

if you can know what I need
please know I only ask you
yield what is unnecessary
keep everything you need to stay yourself
and pace out life with me