Trees and Us

Relatively exaggerated, relatively metaphorical, but also relatively okay.

Why is it that we don’t criticize trees?

At least,

not the way we criticize us.

We don’t call

Trees

S***s when they

Drop leaves to survive.

Trees are not identified as fake

When they stay green all year.

We don’t categorize trees

As fat

If they have rounded

Branches.

Trees aren’t labeled

Try-hards if they change

To adapt.

Trees are not in the

Class of freaks

If the have needles

In a land of leaves.

We don’t laugh

When their leaves

change color

Or turn away if

they’re alone.

But

We do this to US.

We call humans who drop

Clothes to survive s***s.

Humans with rounded stomachs

Are fat to the cannibals

Who feed off trembling tears.

We define humans who smile

All the time fake.

Any human who deviates from

‘Normal’

Is a freak.

We laugh when appearances

Change to mold with emotions

Or society,

And stab ourselves in the eye and turn

Away

When someone is alone.

Yet, no matter

The appearance, we

Call trees beautiful;

The image of perfection

Captured

In Polaroid frames

And displayed on golden canvases.

And yet humans are hung

Not framed on a wall,

But framed on a noose.

But then,

Are we too different from trees?

With chainsaw words,

A forest can be reduced to stumps.

Maybe the Polaroid pictures

Lied.

Author's Note

Please criticize! Praise is always appreciated, but criticism helps me improve, which is a main goal of mine

Reviews

[Cortana]

Very nice poem that leaves the reader melancholy. If only words were not so cutting and people more tolerant. Some very strong lines in here and comparisons.