Have you seen a tree bleed?

Yes. I've seen a tree bleed.

It bled bright red arterial blood...
  or sap --
 
 but not that sticky, very viscous 
  kind of sap that one knows from Maples.

This was the consistency of blood,
  as well as its color. 

It's disconcerting to see
  the scratched bark of a tree
   ooze a fluid so blood-like. 

It makes one question
  one's assumptions,
   such as whether a tree feels:
    a scratch or cut or the nail 
     pounded into its trunk to
     hang something for one's 
      momentary convenience. 

And when I see lover's initials 
 carved into a tree, I now can't help
  but wonder how the lovers would feel
   about the tree's initials being carved 
    into their flesh.