Erica Barreto

Title: April 27

Time is feeling,

and I fear feeling weak.

I build up my defense,

I drop bombs on those who see beyond

my toughened exterior.

I harden my heart and call myself

a strong woman, a warrior.

But then the Trees — they sway in the breeze,

they shake their heads with disbelief.

In the sound of their thrashing leaves, I hear:

"Child, why do you inch closer to death?

To harden oneself

is to become its companion"