Burn Tree

A Poem by Shalena Taylor

Tree of knowledge and understanding.
Tree that has always been there for me.
You remember that night don't you?
Midnight black sky,
bright starts.
Fire!
How I played with it.
Burning things to my desire.
Paper,
pencils,
everything.
Mom saw it.
Burnt matches and pencils.
Anger!
Anger flared and anger coursed through her veins.
I was young.
She took my doll.
Ablaze! She set upon it.
I watched it burn.
And I hated.
I hated her with a vengeance.
Why?
Why did she do that?
So,
I ran.
Up the hill and into the darkness.
Under your safe branches,
next to your protective bark.
And I hated.