BY GLORIA O’KOYE
I asked a class of grade 5 and 6 students to participate in a writing prompt- ‘if you could describe yourself as a part of a tree, what would it be and why?’
I thought to myself,
Which part of a tree would best describe me? My life? My story?
The roots, the flowers, the trunks, the branches that spread out like nature wings
Spreading out its roots
Which tell stories
And life experiences it had seen?
The leaves gravitate the very childlike nature
Full of discernment of what it means to not
Overstay your welcome into people’s lives
And learning to distant once relationships
Hit the winter season.
Or letting go of what needs to let go
To reserve much needed energy
And self love
When the seasons of life have become much cold
If I could describe the foundation of self
With the imagery of leaves
It would be colourful and patterns unique
A pile of memories as each year goes by
And the wind blows away tears and out
Comes sunshine of hope
Something to look forward to
In this lifetime
This little faith, and light of mine
