Trees

for ReadWritePoem march 17, 2008
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White Birch Tree

I am a prom queen
in a slinky
little white number
waiting
for the wind
to ask me to dance.

I am a bride
in a white negligee
just waiting
to be peeled
layer
by layer.

I am an Eskimo
in a white parka.
Snow softly lands
in my hair.

I’m a sunbather
in a one-piece
white bathing suit
stretching my arms
over my head.

I am a nurse
in a white uniform.
My leaves drop
like pills
regenerating the earth.

I am a poem
producing
my own white paper.
See that girl
carving a heart
on me?
She has healing
slash marks
on her wrists.