The Tree’s Reflection

I saw the tree’s reflection within the pond,

With its burdens bangling and dangling from the birch branches,

Bonking and bouncing within the wind.

Burdens like weights,

Only the load of feathers or fractions of pebbles

They were bigger last time I looked;

About to break the branches,

With burdens as big as boulders,

Bounceless beneath the weight.

Though now,

Has the tree been healed?

Its trunk been liberated?

The roots disentangled?

Released of all it never was?

But I know it's the same tree;

I can still see some of the burdens,

Now like flower petals

Now like pine cones

Still there, only less encumbersome.  

The breeze brakes my daze,

I realize I've been looking at my own reflection,

In this pond full with frogs,

All along,

The whole time.