They call her strong

So she pours the coffee

They call her brave

So she paints another lipstick smile

They call her tough

So she grits her teeth through the pain

They call her courageous

So she puts on her cape

They call her compassionate

So she calls a grieving friend

They call her selfless

So she sets aside her plan

They call her capable

So she grabs her car keys

They call her persistent

So she opens the door

They call her competent

So she weaves through the traffic

They call her clever

So she narrowly avoids a fender bender

They call her caring

So she knocks on the door

They call her loving

So she reaches out to hug her friend

They call her attentive

So she listens to the fears

They call her empathetic

So she cries alongside

They call her helpful

So she puts together a meal train

They call her generous

So she is the first to cook

They call her faithful

So she says another prayer

They call her independent

So she dares not ask for help

They call her steadfast

So she dare not give up today

They call her reliable

So she does it all over again–tomorrow

A like without a read is a box without the chocolates. It's the froth on a milkshake. A kiss blown from the other side of the street. Am I guilty of such false love? Of ticking boxes without bothering to read more than the first few lines? Of course. The little heart looks so much nicer when coloured in, don't you think? A like is my smiley face stamp on the back of your hand for fitting at least one of your yellow plastic pieces through the correct and corresponding shaped hole. It might be considered as damning with faint praise, but then...

how many of you have actually bothered to read this?

You stood tall on the hill

Branches swaying in the wind

Watching me as I turned from a seed into a sprout

From a sprout to a seedling

From a seedling into a sapling.

As a sapling I was tall and lanky

Stealing your sunlight

And yet you stood there and watched

Let me be

You did not complain.

Then I turned into a tree

And your branches tipped to me.

You stood by my side

Even as the pine bug took you.

You did not get to watch

As a seed took flight from my branches

As it landed and rooted

And started sprouting.

Your roots are still there and will forever remain.

Thank you.