Can You Hold Onto a Peach
In the winter of my years, stands my barren tree
Its leaves stripped by autumnal winds
Against hope, it had one life left to give
I blew a warm breath into a lone branch
Hoping against hope, I stood transfixed
As spring approached, I beheld a bud
I cupped it in my hands frozen in wonder
I watched its growth in amazement
The spring sun came, and I saw it change
I began to miss the bud growing to a calyx
It’s pinkness unfurled with relentlessness
Observe, readers, a dress wrapped inside a bud
I coveted this awakened bud blossoming
I shielded it against summer's onslaught
But, toiling bees siphoned its very nectar
Its chiffon gown blown off by the solstice
I held on to my once bud defrocked
Miracles abound in nature if you have time
Even now, I hold on to that childlike bud
Knowing it will grow past adolescence
Still holding tight, I saw its fruit maturing
Week by week it no longer needs my hands
A fruit was being born minute by seconds
It ripened on the fragile twig despite hands
I remembered when it was a babe in my palms
Now, it grows fat and juicy tempting to fall
I learned to let go giving to gravity
It was never mine and never still
It grows larger than my hand will hold
That peach is growing hairs without restraint
Its stem strains against that barren tree
It will fall off the tree and grow legs
It will run off to college leaving me in debt
It will find a girlfriend and make seedlings
My little seed must tell hands to let go
My barrenness will then be my reward
The tree and I will be left alone
At times the peach will text or call
I will wonder if that fruit is all right
I hope the endeared pit will find fertile soil
I hope my Persian plum will come and visit
Me and my barren tree are exhausted
My winter has no more spring left in me
Knowing a peach was born is enough
Hope will sprout far from this barren tree
With blossoms bursting like candy stars
Copyright © Triny Xiang | Year Posted 2023
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