There she stood
Remnant of my youth like ratty shoelaces and scars on my knees
Many a battle and GI Joe miracle were fought within the embrace of her branches
Many a fall, too
I'll never forget the day my foot slipped into the crook of her hip
And I was left waiting
And waiting
For hours
Like the goofiest pinata
Until somebody finally spotted me and lifted me out
Every April
Just in time for my birthday
She blossomed loud and strong with scarlet red
And released her confetti petals into the winds
To paint the whole neighborhood with joy
While little boys with dirty finger nails and hand-me-down Jordan's
Made barrels out of their lips and shot dead seeds at each other
Loud enough to remind the grumpy mechanic down the street to sweep his sidewalk again
Or tell us to shut up
She leaned cool against the duplex next door
Swiveling slowly
Like the sweet smelling whispers of smoke
From my neighbor's cigarettes
Or curtains draped around an open window
But then we moved and my legs grew longer
Now I only saw her peeking over wood fences
Across alleyways
Remnant of my youth like ratty shoelaces and scars on my knees
Many a battle and GI Joe miracle were fought within the embrace of her branches
Many a fall, too
I'll never forget the day my foot slipped into the crook of her hip
And I was left waiting
And waiting
For hours
Like the goofiest pinata
Until somebody finally spotted me and lifted me out
Every April
Just in time for my birthday
She blossomed loud and strong with scarlet red
And released her confetti petals into the winds
To paint the whole neighborhood with joy
While little boys with dirty finger nails and hand-me-down Jordan's
Made barrels out of their lips and shot dead seeds at each other
Loud enough to remind the grumpy mechanic down the street to sweep his sidewalk again
Or tell us to shut up
She leaned cool against the duplex next door
Swiveling slowly
Like the sweet smelling whispers of smoke
From my neighbor's cigarettes
Or curtains draped around an open window
But then we moved and my legs grew longer
Now I only saw her peeking over wood fences
Across alleyways
And a bit less fit for adventure
I didn't want to play with toys in her branches anymore
Nor could her branches hold me
But there she remained
Just as loving as always
Later still
And I only find her when I have the chance to look
Carrying on quietly in nooks of the world I never expect to find her
Cracking through subway outlets
Dipping under power lines
Or waving goodbye to me as I board planes
It's in moments like these that I remember
To write my mother
And call my father
Life comes full circle
We are all connected whether we can always understand why
But sometimes it's as simple as where we decide to take root
The memories we etch into the scenery around us
Or the familiar faces that always seem to find us
No matter where we are
For all the "crape myrtles" of the world
Let's raise our glasses
Here's to you
I didn't want to play with toys in her branches anymore
Nor could her branches hold me
But there she remained
Just as loving as always
Later still
And I only find her when I have the chance to look
Carrying on quietly in nooks of the world I never expect to find her
Cracking through subway outlets
Dipping under power lines
Or waving goodbye to me as I board planes
It's in moments like these that I remember
To write my mother
And call my father
Life comes full circle
We are all connected whether we can always understand why
But sometimes it's as simple as where we decide to take root
The memories we etch into the scenery around us
Or the familiar faces that always seem to find us
No matter where we are
For all the "crape myrtles" of the world
Let's raise our glasses
Here's to you
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