1
i
grew up among them
a tree that lives
20 to 40 more years
than i do
the tough ridge like
dark textured
bark
when you are
young
you note it
doesn’t peel like
the other one
it is stately
standoffish
tall and
graceful
it was a power all
its own
a tree one
so beautiful
that it is easy
to see why one
nation would
swap the cross
of St. Andrews
for a mere
leaf
It turns red in
the autumn
a water saving
exercise
while
it sleeps through
the winter
Acer Sapindaceae
they call it
2
the children of
North America
know it well and have
climbed its strong
limbs and sat upon its
branches
its steady arms held
us
and the Keds sneakers
grabbed the natural
textured bark
to keep us
from slipping on
the maple and
its leaf
3
i had
a girlfriend
once who
helped my
understanding of its
beauty
she reminded me
not to spend
too much time
with the maple
leaf
i looked
in the direction
in search
of the object
of which she
spoke
and noticed the
small but comely
woman of African
descent
“they may sound
like us but
they are not what
we are.”
really
the slave patrol’s
dogs could not
tell the difference
especially
after we crossed
the St. Lawrence
freedom was
too precious
and escape
from slavery
a must.
4/24/2021
