topiary

you like to think of it as
fashioning, shaping,
trimming to fit

everything looks better
smaller

at least, that’s how
it seems to you,
because you are
small

always pruning, shaping,
lopping bits off

leaves of contentment
stems of security
roots of self-worth
the flowers of joy

you make it all tiny,
small enough to fit
in your dainty little
terrarium

or in your pocket

or your shoe