Relapse

Do you remember the Peepal tree, daddy,

that had made its home on our roof?

Its roots would widen
the cracks in the concrete, 

you'd said, even trigger collapse of the wall.
And because you were
too 

tired 

to climb

all
those stairs,

you’d sent me instead,

armed with somewhat rusted shears,
to snip at unyielding,
latex-oozing branches.

Daddy, it has come back.