the tree was taller than her.
and she knew that
when it hugged her in
its branches
there would be no
return.

they call her maple
now
because that is the tree
that sucked her up
the june day
when she could no longer
bear to take her place
among the living.

when the green leaves covered her hair
they evaporated the tangles
and her arms
and legs
twisted and turned and
suddenly her limbs were
heavy with the bearing
of fruit
with each full moon
her eyes
would close as knot holes
and ripe with
bursting
the spheres would fall
at her feet

her roots are buried deep
into the ground
each toe a network of
connectivity
disconnectivity
deleted vitality
she sleeps better
in the night
when there are no sounds to distract
her
and she can open her eyes
and
see in the dark