The tree that protected me...

I believed that beneath the tree, 

the branches' shield protected me.

Blocking out the words, the shouts, the pleas,

of others that were being teased.

Amongst the insects, bugs and all,

I had no reason to feel small.

And when the leaves began to fall,

I felt like I could stand tall.

A familiar sound, like a whisper, but loud.

A friend, lying on the ground,

Being bullied by people with egos too large,

They thought they could just run and take charge.

I shouldn't have had to stop my play,

When my friend was bullied because he was gay.

That is why I left the tree's embrace,

To stand up for rights that had lost their place.

But it wasn't the tree that told me to stand,

for my friend, for their rights, to take their hand.

It was the knowing, that, if nothing else,

my friend was there, and he needed help.