Release me

Sweet relief

Sweet, release (me)

the cruel hands at my throat have fallen limp.

for this moment, I take a deep breath

and sink.

 

I walk out the sliding door and once again I am my fathers daughter. Brush smoke in my lungs, the ax in my hand and the grass on my feet.

A lover of nature tasked to destroy,

the vines that worked so hard to become the gate.

when I split the wood my ax lands

between the eyes

the green youth peer up at me.

I go to the tree father and put my cheek to the rough bark. Forgive me.

I am only cleaning the mess

another man made.

 

the fire is a different beast.

She is alive, a woman that wants fed.

I offer stick that she devours, but she does not grow.

 

And where wind should caress

he comes harsh and overbearing.

A lone sparrow lands on the upper branch

surveying me with his beady eye.

 

I can not help but smile

below my fire has gone out.

 

My arms tire from the weight of the axe

and still I smile.

Though I have caused destruction

I smile

showing my enamel.

My mouth overflows with smoke.