“I’m an old tree…”
Blame it on me
if it will bring you peace.
I’m an old tree:
I sway in the breeze,
but I’ve been scorched
by fire and the wars of men
and I’ve rooted day by day.
Blame it on me
but don’t turn away.
Say what you say,
curse my past
but love me today.
When all else fails
blame it on me
and I will press you to my ribs
and love you like the sea.
* * *
Wael Abdelgawad
Fresno, California
January 6, 2013