stunted

my mini-biography

she stands
like some tree grown crooked
not vertical to reach the stars
leaves touching sunlight
but angled as if in repose
bent under an unseen weight
and stunted
a heavy burden now gone but not forgotten
roots straining to support off-centered weight
stretching, growing farther out
stealing nourishment from other lives
only to remain maimed and disfigured
among these things of beauty