Tree Talk

I'm looking at a treeas if it explains something about meI'm shorter than the treeso tree: who knows how long I have loved you.I see you bare in the winterI want to put clothes on you when you are leafless.I want to tell you about barkabout how it grows around my neckthe leaves build a crown around my head.tell me your secrets, oh great tree.tell me what I'm missing when I'm not herestanding next to you in the sun.tell me about those tuesdayswhen the asian boy next door risks everythingto climb your branches and leaves nothingon the ground, he takes himself fully up there.I think about climbing trees but I feel too oldand out of shape to do it right.you know your yesterdaysif you had hands you would read thembut instead, we read the rings around your stump.we walk by you, we don't even see you anymore.we only see our own reflection in the sun.but it's you, it's been you all this time.you have been watching me.tell me tree, who am I?nina