Month: January 2020

The heartwood compresses to form a solid mass, 
densely packed layers become the core of being.
Technically
the heartwood is dead, 
but does not atrophy or decay 
[unless the outer layers
become jeopardized],
the core provides
balance, stability, and security,
self-insulating,  
simultaneously 
protected
and expanding,
as sacrificial outer layers,
supply life and growth,
surrounded by an exterior
of dead, hardened flesh;
the reality
of one’s constant exposure
to an unforgiving world.

A core of sustained non-life, 
an exterior of protective death,
and somewhere in-between,
a balance of 
life, expansion, 
sacrifice, sustenance.