Conformed

An army of us Standing proud and tall Hacked at and hacked at Until we slowly gave way and began to fall We never fought back We are peaceful and humble Slicing and sawing And down we tumble One by one Until the job is done We lay there dying Dehydrating in the sun Once we were unique Different textures and sizes Different talents and personalities Each of us had our own surprises But we’ve been cut down Lost our footing on the ground Whisked away by the man Who sells us by the pound And further we’re cut and molded They make us what they want us to be Boards, doors, floors, boxes, Paper for their toiletry I look around and see my friends They are all around me No longer whole, but in pieces No longer what they used to be Now you can see us standing tall Perhaps a story high. Perhaps two or three But in pieces nailed together Built for the human family And the ones who are fortunate Standing tall, firm, and hard Are isolated from the others Alone in the front yard What would I rather be? Before I make my choice I am forewarned Either I live whole, but isolated and alone Or in pieces painted over and conformed