I Tried to Kill Our Tree

A poem about the aftermath of a bad breakup and things left behind.

I Tried To Kill Our Tree

I tried to kill our tree
The one you left here when you left me
I tried neglect and apathy
But its stubborn roots testify against us

So I nurse it back now as a witness
I pruned it of the sickness of your infidelity
And broke off all the branches of your memory
The plants all around it bowed down to the ground

And they lost all their color, but this tree is so stubborn
Some leaves did fall from it, but others grew up
And replaced your disgrace with their protest
I tried to kill our tree

The one you left here when you left me
I tried to avoid it and ignore its needs
Tried to do to it what you did to me
But then I saw its strength and resiliency

And I discerned the truth it was teaching me
That I’m not like you and I’ll never be
And this tree’s not you, it grows wonderfully
This tree—my tree