A silent witness

Bound to the bark, it drank the rain, And spread tendrils again and again Unnoticed beauty, soft and deep, While hurried, humans let affection sleep They rush on by, with eyes averted, A quiet presence, quite deserted Their gaze on blossoms, bright and bold, My subtle story left untold But I persisted, strong and still, My purpose held against their will I nourished life, unseen, unheard, A haven for love's tiniest of birds So let them chase with fleeting grace, After vibrant flowers that die in time and space I am the bedrock, deep and low, Where roots run strong, and secrets grow They overlooked; they did not see, the quiet worth that dwelled in me And though they're gone, and seasons turn, It will be their loss that they did not learn On an ancient, gnarled oak's dark side, Grew, a humble, verdant tide Just a simple, protective green hue, A silent witness, a moss heart forever true