3

we are threes in the same forest never tangled; never claimed no promises sworn between us no initials carved or named

not passing; not possessing years of quiet standing near season after season rooted faithful on each turning year

your branches seek their own light mine bend toward a different sky yet the same wind stirs us all the same clouds drifting by

we do not reach to hold each other only to remain true through storm and through the unnamed names through silence and through war

we have always stood like this: not entwined but side by side trees in one; one long road with nothing left to be or hide