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As kids, I scratched your name
in the skin of a Beech tree.
It was all I knew of love.

Beneath the ground they say
trees can communicate.
Great tap roots find each other,

exchange information like the
gossip of a mongering fishwife.
and chat like lovers over tea

When I die and they dress my body,
tell them not to fuss with my hands.
I want to carry your dirt forever.

Terrific. I love the casual, humorous imagery…”gossip of a mongering fishwife”, “ chat like
lovers do over a cup of tea.”
The hands image works well.
Fun read

Thanks Bob

Hi Ken,

I believe e. e. cummings would love this poem, especially the finale.

Below, I have gone through with a punctuation check applied; also, a slight edit in stanza 3. -- Michael (MV)

As kids, I scratched your name
in the skin of a Beech tree.
It was all I knew of love.

Beneath the ground they say
trees can communicate.
Great tap roots find each other,

exchange information like gossip
of a mongering fishwife,
and chat like lovers over tea.

When I die and they dress my body,
tell them not to fuss with my hands.
I want to carry your dirt forever.

Thanks Michael

Actually, this is the one I specifically would recommend.

Michael (MV)

Thanks Michael. My IBPC days may be over.