15 Minutes In A Tree

i have to get away tonight
or i will start to cry
my mom and i have had a fight
unknown the reason why

quietly out the front door i slip
with hardly any noise
over a large root i trip
for i possess no poise

i stomp over to my favorite tree
the tears already streaming
it is so dark i bump my knee
while wishing i am dreaming

i swing up in the branches thick
and settle down to rest
i award myself a mental kick
for not keeping my cool and passing the test

cold in jeans and a short sleeved shirt
i hug myself to keep warm
watch two shadowy figures across the street flirt
while preparing myself for the coming storm

i sing to myself to ward off my fears
but falter when i'm overheard
maybe that man walking down the street hears
but thinks only i'm an off-key bird

my neighbor exits his house next door
my dog begins to bark
her racket he cannot ignore
i watch without moving eyes shining in the dark

he calms her down as he walks to his backyard
i hold my breath and wait
whatever he's doing must not be hard
because he comes around front shortly after closing his back gate

he reenters his house
still without noticing me
and i breath a sigh of relief
that i blended so well with my tree

i look up at the branches where we sat
and reflect on better days
before i got so fat
and went through this teenager phase

you told me that you loved me
i told you i loved you
friends forever you said we'll be
but that's sadly not coming true

you (different you) now cross my mind
i wonder how you feel
now that he's being so kind
and even went so far as to kneel

the good times we've had
the talks we share
life doesn't seem as bad
when you tell me you care

you (different you) remember that poem i wrote
quickly at the beginning of the year
i scribbled crossed out wrote and rewrote
made it new beautiful clear

i dedicated it to you
not that you'll ever know
what have my efforts gotten me?
for them i have nothing to show.

i'm getting a little sleepy
perched cautiously high in my tree
i get down and go inside now
still thinking of who i can never truly be.