Strength

I am sitting on the grass 
pressing my body against the tree. 
Begging her to take me in. 
Begging her to harden my skin. 

But she refuses. 
She says: 
“Your skin is as tough as my trunk.  
It protects you just the same”. 

I say: 
“But you’re so sure of yourself. 
You stand tall withstanding all that comes at you.” 

She says: 
“There’s no secret to being the strongest. 
Sometimes the universe just sends things your way to cut you down. 
Sometimes you get lucky but most of the time you fall.” 
She says: 
“What’s important is in the process to shake off every seed. Spread them everywhere so they may have a chance of withstanding more storms than you.”