
ancient fortress:
tree grows through cracks;
the tree will win.

ancient fortress:
tree grows through cracks;
the tree will win.

a muscular tree
poses with limbs outstretched;
shrubs are unimpressed.

It doesn't need wide open spaces. It doesn't need direct sunlight. No bark-wide chasm through the tombstone -- Gardner, leave that tree alone. Hey, Gardner, leave that tree alone! All in all, it's just another fig in the wall. All in all, we're just a bunch of figs in the wall.

an old fig tree,
gnarled and knotty,
grotesque but strong