tree of names

have you ever climbed a tree
and wondered at the not
quite top if you are going
to cry because i certainly have
not ever done that.
once i noticed, though,
that the tree was full of names,
and more importantly saturated with
love. elephant skin its bark
was elephant skin and i pined
at its dry wrinkled elephant skin
with my fingernails until its
waxy flesh appeared. everywhere
on this tree, engraved in its bark, its
ever so rough elephant skin bark, were
letters, and each combination
of letters was a love affair. swollen disgustingly
swollen love was etched into each scar
on the trees' rough skin. i leaned back on the
branch, folded into the trees thick arms,
and slowly closed my
eyes and held my heart.

dls