the trees don’t judge me
the way you do
pinning me down
to outdated impressions

the trees don’t scrutinize me
the way you do
seeing me through a lens
that only fits you

the trees see me
in a way you don’t
they don’t hold on
holding on to old stories
they bury them
like roots
in the earth

the trees open a way
this way
a path to walk, forward

I could look behind
I choose not to

with so many possibilities ahead of me
beside me
inside me
I follow their lead