Tree Hugger

You reach your arm toward the next branch,

Muscles taut.

Moss moults down your legs.

Bark breaks upwards into your palm,

Cracking into shards

Of card and pristine paper,

Which slither through your flesh.

The rust red runs,

Boils and spits,

Sparking,

Searing its way into your eye.

The sting makes your jaw clench rock-like

Your ears splinter with a crack

From a bone in your leg that folds in on itself

Your muscles rip, torn Velcro between your limbs.

You fall far from the tree.