**
The lines on my face
match the rings in the trees
Marking time and space
tracking the trails of me
Telling the tales
and places we've been
Like a snake sheds its scales
revealing the secrets within
Marking our ages with wrinkles and lenticels
to ensure life through sure propagation
Reaching and growing like elongated tentacles
to strengthen our core and foundations
Telling our stories with fine lines and creases
traipsing through both happy and sad
Blended together, because that's what life is
beautiful journeys, like roots, that expand
Reading the lines to determine a life
where we've been and where we are growing
All just a part of nature's grand design
reaching into and beyond all knowing
Each line unique, a mapping of sorts
diving deeper than what's seen on the surface
Each one is nourished and preserved by its source
designed for its specific purpose
***
A/N
Branch inclusions: Lines that show where a smaller branch was engulfed by the trunk as the tree grew around it.
Tree rings, these "lines" in a tree can refer to tree rings, which show its age and are formed by seasonal growth
About the Creator
Kelli Sheckler-Amsden
Telling stories my heart needs to tell <3 life is a journey, not a competition
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Comments (7)
I love this part: "The lines on my face match the rings in the trees Marking time and space tracking the trails of me." This felt personal and very relatable.💖
The tree rings of a poets' mind for they are not concentric but form shapes of all sizes and shapes for poets are eclectic beings. Good job.
This feels intimate and so natural Kelli, just like the process of aging/growing!
This poem reads like a gentle reminder that every mark we carry has meaning. Stunning.
Amazing visuals! And thank you for this opportunity to learn a new phrase (branch inclusion), so ripe with metaphor.
this is such a great take on the branches challenge-- hope you get some recognition for it, and I'm glad you came up with such a cool reference. I like the concept too of tree lines and face lines lining up.
We are all marked.