Look at Me

when you look at me
what do you see?

are you seeing me now
or projecting who
you want me to be?

do you bring up old
pictures and adorn them
with longing?

saying that's the you
capturing me in flatness

we give more grace
to an oak tree
than we do the
people we love

we marvel at the push
through the soil
the first tiny branches
the shortness and tallness
of youth

we look at her always in the moment
happy for the beauty
thankful for the shade
never looking backwards and saying

you were better back then