A Soldier's Final Moments

He stands resolutely Through Mother Nature’s icy siege. His grey-brown branches reach out To touch the brisk air one last time And touch my soul as I sit and he whispers his countless secrets. Finally his jutting veins release the rock face. His spine creeks and his single weathered leaf utters one last phrase With a dignity so sure that all the forest Fell into a hush and listened. So many stories left to share, But no time left to share them. Cleared away by time like all those others Daring enough to come before him.