picture of a tree | Robyn Graham Photography

Watch, don’t turn your back,

Never let your senses slack,

When into the woods

You journey.

For it is there,

That wild beasts lay idle,

And hide,

Until dusk draws near.

Then, just as the sun’s glow

Begins to fade,

The beasts awaken,

No longer hiding from the day’s trespassers.

They pounce,

And if you are not prepared,

Your heart may skip a beat, and

With a fleeting moment of fear,

You’ll run, then disappear.

Oh the stories I could tell

If you had the time to dwell

Underneath my branches as they sway

And create shade on a warm day.

♦

The loves that sat in the very spot

You choose today to stand and plot,

You could be listening to my stories

That warn of worries unnecessary.

♦

I’ve seen it all

From love, lust, and great falls.

My bark impressed with countless tales

Of hearts and names and even wedding vows.

♦

The hearts that broke

When someone spoke

Unkind thoughts

That were not provoked.

♦

The laughter, joy, and fun

While children did run

And play childhood games

While shouting each other’s names.

♦

The smiles and tears

The hugs and the shrugs

The pain and the gain

The love from above.

♦

I’ve given to all

What they needed in time

But I’ve taken

All that was mine.

♦

The things that I’ve witnessed

Gave me sight to be seen

For without all the experiences underneath me

I would not be green.

♦

I’ve been nourished

Through them all

For even a tree

Has hopes and desires

To enjoy what’s free.

The Tree