The loving branch

was the brief thrill of the flightless dive
really worth the lengthy climb
to the peak of a towering tree
and a painful collision
with the rather unforgiving earth? 

were all those days
of the purest joy
worth the pain of the present absence
the damp face
the lost aim
the lazy darkness? 

when you wake up
you will realize you haven't hit the ground. 
you have landed softly on a loving branch
offering you an opportunity
to climb back the peak.