THE TREE

Here I go and take a stand

I take a stand - again

I'd rather keep my

Mouth shut

But then I'd hardly be

A friend

I've been through this before

Saw all I had to lose

But when confronted

With the right thing

- The right thing's what

I'll choose

I cannot be fair weather

That habits not in me

And if it were -

My relevance

Would simply cease to be

If I can't do what's right

Then I shouldn't do at all

I'm not gonna sit around

And watch another as they fall

People keep their mouth shut

They do, habitually

They don't want cause for

Provocation

Toward themselves

• Especially

But I have no such

Safeguard

It simply hasn't been built in

I speak clearly my intentions

While others - do me in

If you doubt me

Please feel free

To ask either

One of them

I find it strange

That my habits aren't the norm

People should own their words

And take their shit by storm

Otherwise their common pansies

Or daffodils

Or dour

Commonplace

• No roses

Just a perennial flower

That blooms so infrequently

They might well not bloom at all

I won't do it

I can't do it

I won't watch another Fall

After fall comes

Another's winter

Then they all but pass away

Limp to twigs and splinters

I won't watch them fade

• That way

It's simply all or nothing

That's how it has to be

I can surely see the forest

But I won't let it hide

Can't let it hide

The tree