No different from the banana tree

No different from the banana tree

Streaks of grey in my hair
Wrinkes on my face
Chips in my teeth
Turning yellow

Planted a banana tree
And now, a year later, it's dead
But dozens of keiki
Are growing
All around

I used to lament
The wrinkles and the grey
The tooth decay

"We love to forget
about impermance"
Says my friend

A teenager at the dance
Says I'm strong like a tree

"I don't think of myself as strong"
I say

I guess I'm strong
I've filled out the spaces
Between my bones
With muscle and fat
No longer thin
Like I used to be

I guess I'm strong
Like a tree
For now