Tree's Lament

An Old Tree's Lament

It whispers through my greatest prize

That once used to look so fine

I used to be the one to rise

above those pathetic pines.

I still look down upon them

They smile up at me instead

Cause their lives are flourishing

While mine is almost dead.

I cannot comprehend

Why time is so cruel to me

I've seen everything from where I stand-

A little boy skin his knee...

A dieing solider wanting to feel Mama's hand

My once strong limbs

Have given shade to many a weary man

While the small ones hide up in me

Trying to see who can.

I have never left this spot

For many years not at all!

But here my trunk it starts to rot

As my leaves begin to fall.

I thought I was enormous

My roots were firm and strong

Smaller trees were nothing compared to my awesomeness

Everything about them was wrong!

My life is ending hastily...

Those other trees will scorn

When they see my empty self

Standing lonely and so worn...

CSL