I have placed the poems in chronological order, starting at the age of 13 and coming to a completion at the age of 36. This is a poetic journey of my personal transition - nothing more, nothing less. As a sapling turns into a tree, we too become an adult; receiving the gifts to bestow upon new life. We then shelter this new life, and gradually we let go. Just as a tree is weathered by time, we too go through a similar process, growing wiser in our years. Through this process we are made stronger. As a stronger person, we are better able to support the next generation. As the branches of a tree provide the nursery for its seeds to grow, we too are more equipped to share wisdom, to support our families and the community to which we belong.