The Coconut Tree Poem by RIC BASTASA

i won't say that it is you. I always
hide things away from you. You see
it is the house where we live. It
is happy. You say i am not in my
mind. How can a house be happy?

(how can i tell you that i am
unhappy? i look for an island in this
house, and it is happy that i have
not found it here)

what is that island all about? it is
all about me. It is a small island,
with one coconut tree that i love.
It is touching the sky. And yet
it has no roots to make it stay.
Soon the wind comes and the
coconut tree shall be taken. I want
to hold on to that tree. But i cannot
find that island.

when i tell you this, you will say
you're crazy. You lied to me. If you
only tell me the truth

(if i tell you the truth i will find the
island but the tree that i love will no
longer be there. That is the curse.
When i find it, it will be gone.)

do you think that that tree has leaves
of gold, has trunks of silver? do not
accuse of me of greed. It is a tree
without roots. It has wings. And
this saddens me.

A lot.