Trees grow up

Trees grow up
Leaves bloom and whither
Ash and birch grow side by side
Yet never together
Never the same

Trees grow together
To become one
Trees grow together
Along side each other
Trees set seedings
Seedings become saplings

Trees grow together
To become one
Yet sometimes
They grow apart instead
And saplings and seedings
Stand alone
Lonely
Without comfort.

Saplings and seedings
Learn to grow alone
Learn to be alone
Learn to accept loneliness.
Saplings and seedings
Grow up together
In the apparent safety of numbers
The apparent safety of family
But under the soil
No roots touch
No roots mingle
Each set of roots
Are locked into their own quarters.
No mingling
No safety
Just survival.
Survival and growth.
Grow up, become a tree
Set new roots
Strong roots
Roots that will hold
Stand strong in a hurricane
Not give in in the breeze.