Abused
Battered by force
Our trunks repeatedly hit
Accidentally or
Intentionally
Scrapes, cuts, bruises, welts, fractures
Lightning scars, hurtful words
Weighed down by snow and ice
Like guilt and poor self-esteem
Decay causing fungi
Were alcohol and drugs
Our bark penetrated
Damaging the cambium,
Vascular tissue
Giving way under stress
Our foundations weakened
Every wound remained within
Years of concealing
Rather than healing
Attempts to isolate
Our traumatic injuries
A maple’s callus
Surrounding the damage
With new tissue growth
Bandages, make-up,
Strategic clothing
To hide the mutilation
Barrier zones created
Possible causes
Rationalized then
Compartmentalized
Can we save ourselves?
