America Dream

by Adriana Green

I dreamed a tree 
witnessed
its cutting
slow bleed
of sap
and pine needle
shudder
I dreamed a tree 
witnessed
its wound
how the soft rings
of its body
broke
into before
and after
in its belly
I found a bullet
gut shot 
from a battle
a march of men
with guns
carrying the name 
of some dream 
called america
onto a field
maybe the tree
watched
the bullet bite
watched
a choke
of gunpowder
cloud its leaves
watched
the rot spread
on the trunk 
of a man
watched 
its own greedy roots
drink for hours
and hours
the water
a body makes 
when it bleeds.