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Uprooted by Jessica McKinney

Stop
Before you crush my leaves

Stop
Before you twist my branch

Stop
Before you strip my bark

Stop
Before you cut me down

I am only
A tree

One that is strong
But not unbreakable

One that is rooted
In effort, adaptability

Let me bloom.
Trim the dead foliage.

Do not let me drown
Do not let me burn by the sun

Do not let me
Fall

My caretaker,
You are not rooted-

Deeply
Or strongly

Your leaves sway
With the changing wind

Your branches
Twist with others

Your bark
Is brittle and chipped

You may never get cut down
But-
You will fall

This stops here.
May you be planted somewhere new

Take only yourself
And your pride that

You are a tree,
Nonetheless

That you are only
A tree

Uprooted by 

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