Scar Tissue

Scar Tissue

My arms around the tree,
criss-crossed alligator skin,
moss, draped modestly
over the exposed valley 
of a bough.

Above, branches creak, 
rusted leaves join
the wind’s chorus,
as sunlight dances 
through the canopy.

Far below, elephantine roots
hold steadfast against flowing water,
changing the river's cadence,
adding to its song 
of hope.

I step back to stare 
at a long-healed scar -
the limb torn from its siblings. 
Its jagged edge screams loss
and ugliness.

But I know the story
of this mutilated stump…
And it is beautiful. 

First published by Community Arts Partnership Resonance Anthology 2018