Pecan Tree
I see you—
abandoned,
neglected,
underappreciated.
I acknowledge you—
sacred and nourishing
the city of
San Anto
Strong
Persevering
Like Emma Tenayuca
Fighting for the rights
Of those who shelled you.
Pecan Tree
Don’t whither
You’ve held our city together
You deserve better.
We take, take, take your fruit
To raise ourselves
While your branches wilt–
forgotten.
When will we give tribute to your presence?
How will we give thanks
To your hugs of shade?
Sheltering from humid summers
Birthing our voces with your roots
Offering peace to our plights
Pecan Tree…
Please accept my prayer
Please accept my gratitude
Your seeds, San Anto
Your existence, your song.
If this city is a poem,
You are the sweet surrender between each line
That deep exhale between each verse.
Responding to nature (and the connections it makes in our lives) on Day 9 of our 30 day poetry writing journey is Elizabeth G. Rodriguez.
Elizabeth is a queer brown woman who was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. She has a Master of Arts in Woman’s Studies from Texas Woman’s University. She is a writer of poems and short stories that are born from many personal experiences of generational trauma, women of color feminisms, working-class activism(s), resiliency, and love.
