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There was a lot of trash and bugs in the forest. I began the task of cleaning them up. As I was working, I felt a look on my back, and when I looked around, there was a...

A green bear. A metal dragon. A red umbrella floating in the sky.
 
That's when I saw the old maple
a couple of its thick arms cracked
one arm reclining half rotted
into earth black with the delicious
hospitality of rot to the
littlest creatures

the tree not really dying living
less widely green head high
above the other leaf-crowded
trees a terrible stretch to sun
just to stay alive but if you've
liked life you do it
...............by Grace Paley