I am a giant sequoia
my cells carry a millennia
of memories and knowledge
my limbs stretch to the sky
my crown among the clouds
that I sip on for water
my heartwood twisted and healed
a thousand times over
my body scarred from the flames
I’ve endured

they can try to cut me with their words
but my bark is thicker than their hurt
they can try to suffocate me out
but I already thrive where the air is thin
they can try to set me on fire
but I’ll just hold it in my belly
they can try to claim it’s in our best interest
yet ignore the ones we’ll lose

my roots spread far so my community can hold me up
my family and friends have fallen too soon
while I continue to grow strong under their love
my vulnerabilities and exposed core
provide the shelter from the pain I’ve seen

they will hear me before I fall