I Believe in You
by Laura Moleta, New Zealand
Cantering waves with white flowing manes charge towards me,
And though I can’t move as parts of me seep so far down into the undiscovered,
the waves can’t Reach me, for they are just not quite powerful enough,
instead they fling tiny droplets of themselves at me, their salty essences are rotting me slowly.
And all those things that worry me, they gnaw away at my salted bark while mosses of pain and anger creep wordlessly over me, disguising who I really am.
Caterpillars and other unidentifiable creatures, continually chew on my hands, leaving me felling Dull and ugly.
You came, a mischievous black bird, cheeky grin and smiling eyes, busied yourself,
jumping from Branch to branch devouring those who were slowly taking my life.
And though you brought beautiful things and hung them in my branches,
They weren’t yours to give.
Many grew to dislike you, but your smiles and kind comments, the laughs we shared, all those silly things that happened when you were here, they were like shooting stars to me and no matter what,
I will never be able to hate you.
Stronger and bolder I grew, and so comfortable with your company, I stretched my arms up to the Sun and a tiny egg of confidence hatched within me causing fresh green leaves to sprout, proud and new, so alive in the soft sunshine.
Then suddenly you were gone.
Everything was so empty, the sea hushed, the sun hid itself and I felt so alone,
then the sky cracked, the wind snatched and tore, and cold rain was thrown from the heavens, right on top of me,
I cried, Like only a tree can cry, so silently, it was only the worms gathering around my roots who could hear,
they mourned with me as colours faded and you became just a memory.
So where have you gone? Did you find a beautiful tree somewhere miles away?
A tree much better than me?
The nest you built in my uppermost branches is still there,
Both the wind and I have tried repetitively, but I knew, right from the moment you first flew into Sight, that I would never get rid of your shadow.
Once I saw you, fly overhead, I heard the helpful words that floated from you,
They floated right into my untouchable heart, and all I could do was crumple, under the weight of Both sorrow and happiness.
And though I have shaken leaves loose and with assistance from an eager breeze, tried so hard to send them to you, I haven’t seen you since, not heard a word,
not caught a glimpse of a single black Feather.
Simply nothing at all.
Where you are, I know not, how you feel, I know even less,
Yet I am still here and I still gaze at the sky, whether it be silky blue or filled,
With tearful grey clouds, while searching I have seen so many birds,
It’s just that none of them have been you.
If there’s one thing you taught me, it’s not to ever give up.
That’s why I still believe your kind words
and smiling eyes will return to me, eventually.
