Crooked

No-one blames the tree for being crooked. 

Naked of symmetry its antic pose 

Bruises the expectations of children, 

Scratchscuffs the shinskin. 

Hidden in arthritious clutch 

Spun webs in its barky groins 

Brains of the tree, white 

Whispy teeth of the tree -  

Swollen roots like sated 

Snakes digesting lie 

Dogpiss damp. 

The other trees 

Keep their distance though, don’t they? 

Straightbacked 

Picturebook trees 

Huddled and pointing 

Huddled and pointing 

As though the judgment they use 

To correct themselves 

To stay acceptable 

Is out of their control and cannot be  

Turned off.