Forest of Memories

Memories are like trees of a forest -
they struggle up through the consciousness of the past
to enter to the light,
the sky blue of the unclouded present, 
to cast shadows over happy minds.
Sometimes, it's best to look on that 
forest of memories
from above, as an eagle,
in the mind's eye - a  distant past.
If you enter from below, where the roots entangle
the mind, the vines might choke you
or falling branches
leave you maimed. 
Or you might, in a rage, axe the trees down, 
heave-ho, strip the trunks bare
And raise them as totem poles to past hurts.
Why enter naked into the forest green? Instead,
bury sore wounds in the deep earth,
cover them with kindness and forgiveness,
leave them to form rich soil
and allow better trees to form.