Deeply rooted in a bent back

Strongly affirmed in a broken limb

Vigorous strength in a hollow trunk

Enthralled amongst heavy blasts of tempest winds

Violent collision infiltrated the intricate tendons of my frame

The mustard yellow intestinal walls began to peal, opening the bitter truth of my dismemberment

Meanwhile, the skeletal structure that upheld my subsistence was in steady decomposition at the onslaught of the tornadic hurricane that swept across my rough black bark.

As it whisked across my bough, I felt its brutal touch that left me bruised in agony

My stout reddish brown demeanor was quickly fading, turning into shades of pale browns

Unable to quickly bend to the winds desires, I was broken and as I saw a piece of myself fall to the earth

I began to feel the submergence of the inevitability of my destiny to be engulfed by very ground on which I stood

The surface of the dry dusty earth depicted a glimpse of the abysmal cave where my roots dwelled

Underneath, the cracked soil could not uphold nor nourish my starving roots which left me in desperate agony, vulnerable to massive eruptions of brutality from the environmental disease from which I suffered

As the winds increased their velocity, they summoned a downpour of torrential rains that threatened a total upheaval of myself

At my wits end, I could not endure this suffering

The constant beating had now created hollowness within my once sturdy trunk that dug into the rotting of my roots

My main system of support was being cut off from me and I could not bear the reality of tumbling into my own grave

Myself twisted in confusion, submerged itself deeply in more pain, tearing off my own limbs in fear of my need for survival

Standing alone in the midst of apocalyptic annihilation

I was consumed by the abhorred rhythmic sensation of my upheaval

It mockingly danced within the distinct howling that screamed ghost like shrieks amongst my torn branches

The winded voice of terror that echoed, sounded a loud thump and deep thud within my growing hollow existence

As I gasped and moaned at every vibration

The hollow gap within echoed a humming wave

As I listened to myself

I was deeply fascinated at the resounding melody that followed amidst destruction

A melody that I created

Surprisingly, the more the monstrous brute force tried to bully me into submission the smoother the melody began to harmonize within me

I found myself being deeply hypnotized by this new energetic force, as it overwhelmed me with its sensational embrace

Slowly, I began to gain strength, rebuilding by mental constitution, I became renewed to a new possible destiny, a future that would be birthed through a will to live

Roaring against crashing cymbals

Beating heart felt lub dubs

Thrusting injections of medicinal poison upon my weakened breast

I sunk a great ahhh

Pulling upon every root fiber

Willing myself into submission

I dug myself in the soil of my anguish

Ohhh, Ahhh

The exclamation of perseverance and determination amongst an ouch from the sting of endurance pushed and pulled me into a greater force and momentum which submerged myself into the truth of the essence of my origination.

Through the storm I firmly held on till I reached the eye

Upon arrival, as I as slowly became surrounded by the soft silent space

I heard a whisper unlike any other calling out, Quercus Velutina

This was my name, a name I had long forgotten, as I no longer resembled or could recognize myself as Black Oak

The resurfacing of my name amongst such quiet, lulled me into a curious trance

As I plunged into the depths of my mind I dreamt of being planted beside still waters

Dwelling within the touch of crisp air, I felt the tickle of cool being blown against the cluster of my deep bristle-tipped leaves

I held the warmth of the sun radiating upon my limbs, angled towards the light

I gripped the soft moisten soil with the tips of the tiny membranes of my roots

I reached high with my tall, straight trunk to kiss the soft tender white clouds within the refreshing blue sky

Finally, I knew, within my inner most being the sensation of being surrounded by an immense illuminated beauty which breathed upon me life

Life that resurrected the intricate, intertwined fibers that constituted the creation of myself

Suddenly, I awoke with a longing thirst and wrenched hunger

I was still within the eye but that alone could no longer bring me peace

I suffered from a new torment, a new born agony that was incomparable to the one before

To envision myself anew, the sensational sights

Voices of peace that summoned tranquil melodies

The touch of the breath of fresh air

Ahhh, this suffering of the obsession of my own imagination

Was consuming my every being

I writhed and twisted

Frolicked and frowned

With orgasmic pulses squirming down my spine

The metamorphism of new growth occurred in the absence of my own recognition

My lapse in the epiphany of the process of recreation was to the benefit of my transition

As I was completely consumed in the prophecy of the presence of my future that encountered me, I was subsequently transformed into that which I had desired a reflection of the inner dwelling of my being

I. Quercus Velutina, Black Oak was reborn

Reformed into a greater glory, in the midst of my greatest storm