“Some Words for the Week”

The tallest leaves

of a tree

soak up the most sun

while the older branches

near the base and ground

grow bare and grey

what was once

needed for this thing to survive

remains unused

good only now

to feed passing fires

or as twigs for nests or hollows

so too do we carry so much

that once held us up

and helped us to survive

but which no longer

does much

but burns and is taken

so grow your new leaves

and let the old branches break

you do not need them anymore

you are not that sapling

which once feared to fall

you stand amongst the forest

blowing so strong and gently

in the wind

Alexander Shalom Joseph is a writer from Gilpin County. He has two published books and one more forthcoming in the Fall of 2022. For more information and to subscribe to Alexander’s Newsletter go to alexandershalomjoseph.com