They hacked into me from top to bottom
without mercy.
For centuries I bore myself freely, offering shade, providing life, picking up dust and harmful particles onto myself
a shield.
I asked nothing but the right to exist
unencumbered.
They poured concrete all around my roots
leaving me no space to grow
no water to drink
I said nothing.
They walked, stomped, spat, urinated, defecated, even drove over me
day after day after day
I did nothing.
But as they revved up their chainsaws and headed towards me
I screamed
I hollered
I wailed
I pleaded with all my soul!
No one gave an ear.
Nobody shed a tear.
Hard, sharp, jagged spokes ripped into my flesh
over and over again.
My silent screams drowned out by the din of traffic and charged weapons of pain
I was ravaged in broad daylight.
Violated
Maimed
Butchered.
I lie
naked
exposed
bleeding
alone…
stripped of purpose.
beneath a banyan 
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