For Hgarvey Daniel, Esquire

You should have seen this tree before the winter came Before the sun broke faith with its suckling leaves Before the heavy ice of time sagged its limbs Before its roots were singe in a frigid flame. Did you know HG Daniel then, did you walk with him Through spring and hear him sing of his king Did he teach you "the elements of survival," when Eden Closed its gate on us did he tell you its lore And make you long for earth's long lost heaven Though he struggles "not a man as before"? I knew this tree when spring was a leaf of tongue And poets sip the nectar of imagination young I read him in rhyme and works of tribute To fair Barbara and other members of the soup Before the strokes, his loss of wife, and the loop Of pall upon his hand with which he paint his love. He is a noble tree, a great one in our forest of rhymes A brother in arms of faith, a comrade, a friend I send him prayers today, and wait for yours to come This tree still from autumn mist a few fruit holds Of friendship, love, and loyalty to the babbling scrolls.