In the sweet years
I hid under the tree
the leaves' canopy
sheltering me

From the loud ones

The haunted house
far away
the words of disappointment 
didn't touch me that day

I got lost in words
on pages of adventure
it felt like freedom
that was the clincher

I didn't want to leave
my sheltering tree
but no one ever cared
after all, I was just
me.