At the Root

There is a pain in my chest

Across my heart

And lungs

As big as

A mountain

Hard to climb

Hard to breath

At the top

A black tree

Shuddering and creaking

What is at the root of this?

I wonder

I hold you like my child

You do not speak

You only cry and scream

Shhh, I tell her, there, there

It will be alright,

I hope