He chooses his words slowly
like a man used to handling
sharp things
the story falls out of him in pieces
in time with my tears
as I listen to this man
who was ground into the pulp
of addiction
and how he somehow
put his heart back together again
so he could serve the ones
who didn’t have the strength
to climb out on their own
we celebrate sports heroes and soldiers
but where are the medals for men
as thin as branches
who somehow
despite so many storms
hang on
just to offer
their little bit
of shade.