You Cannot Make Me Forget Who I Am Poem by RIC BASTASA

from the beginning
when my roots fused to your roots
i have always detached
my thorns
from your thorns
my tendrils are cautious
not to harm myself
neither yours.

i am different and will always be
one
apart from you
when you kiss me as i close my eyes
i always think
of myself

soon all these illusions will be gone with
the sunshine
and i won't regret it when the rains will start
to pour heavily
as i am always ready

i keep a boat ready on the river
when this time comes
i can always paddle
to the other side
where i keep my roots my seeds
where i am a tree
of old

always myself, yes, you cannot make me
forget
who i am