I do not remain to judge
I simply remain to be
A tree
Who trims her branches
of the heavy rotted fruit
of her past

A limb which sags lifeless
bearing an ignoble Roman
and his secret lover’s
letter of apology;
embarrassed at her
eating the bitter fruits off my tree
for so long concealed.

A limb of a childhood crush
who write letters
lamenting the lost chance
of the eating of my fruit
many many years past
while he eats the fruit of another
he calls “wife”

A limb dense with
a desperate women
who clings to my branches
calling herself “friend”
hoping I will feed her
while she gorges
on the fruits of many
trees around the world.

A limb which drags heavy
of fruit fermented in
past insecurities and
Ignorance
Finally free with
the passing of the storm
called experience

I trim these dead limbs
and with a bright smile
carved into my trunk
I can now move about
to paint my branches,
grow a sweet
yet discerning fruit
and celebrate freedom

by Jennifer Allison