“We grew up on the same street, You and me. We went to the same schools, Rode the same bus, Had the same friends, And even shared spaghetti With each other's families. And though our roots belong to The same tree, Our branches have grown In different directions. Our tree, Now resembles a thousand Other trees In a sea of a trillion Other trees With parallel destinies And similar dreams. You cannot envy the branch That grows bigger From the same seed, And you cannot Blame it on the sun's direction. But you still compare us, As if we're still those two Kids at the park Slurping down slushies and Eating ice cream. Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun (2010)” LoveLifeKidsLife LessonsPoetryGrowthRelationshipsDestinySunGrowing UpPathFateGrowingDreamsTreeChildhoodYouthFriendsLife And LivingRootsEnvyCompareJealousyBranchesResentmentTreesIce CreamEnemiesChangesFacts Of LifeDirectionLife JourneyReunionHatersDifferent DirectionsSuzy KassemPathsSeedDifferent PathsStreetRootRelativesBestfriendsLife DirectionLife ChangeComparing Yourself To OthersComparison To OthersLife CycleParkBranchTruths Of LifeDestiniesChanges Of LifeDifferent JourniesFamily BranchesFamily Branches QuoteBranches QuoteDifferent FateSame RootsSame School Book:Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem Source: Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem