a man and i walked
amongst the trees
today deciding which
tree would live and
which tree would die

we neither wanted any
and so were lucky
every soul was healthy
save one, the wild birch
split in heavy sections
lacking any center
a hazard of gravity
waiting to bring others down
as its own chaos cracks

but the one tree we most
love lived out near the road
with one eccentric branch
reaching out far across
as if longing to touch
the city power lines

we're not sure why
but we'll take care
its roguish impulse
is pruned when crews
return with their chain
scissors for haircuts

in the mirror
i thought
this mouth
  shape
shouldn't be
made the norm
and remembered
others see
without the whole
  story
perhaps the eyes
will say more
even more
  loudly
or quietly
who am i
to say
the meaning
of what's been
  written
or who
read it