Consider the two trees
Standing guard outside my apartment
Consider their height
And their lean white trunks

I'm sorry to say,
I have often sat on my patio
And regretted their existence
Their sad, stunted growth, over-trimmed
Their few leaves,
Green so briefly,
Before they over-anxiously
Anticipate autumn,
Turning brown and falling
So soon after spring gives them life

Consider my regret
Standing guard
Consider its power
And its sad, piercing cry

I'm sorry, trees.
I have often sat on my patio
And wished for something better for you
I wished for strong branches
Bearing bright green leaves
That laugh in the wind,
In love with their stems
Holding on, gaining strength,
Knowing and trusting their roots
And lasting as long as is willed them by God

Delicately, I tiptoe away
As I leave this apartment, leave California
Trusting in symmetry, trusting in God
That I will leave no consequences
Of my regret