Renascence

Its boughs spread like a giant umbrella, Its girth, like the span of many hands, Its foliage was lustrous green and exuberant, Its roots dispersed like the tentacles of an octopus. This tree stood tall and strong, It stood against the tides of seasons, It withstood fierce winds, It swirled and danced to their rhythms. It was the admiration of many people, They praised and talked about its resilience, Children played around it until sunset, Travellers took refuge under its shade, Others took parts of it for herbs and spices. Nobody knew what it went through on the inside, Little cuts metamorphosed into deep wounds, Tiny slashes transformed into intense lacerations, These were recalcitrant to healing. There was a raging storm, It passed through the town, It shook everything to its foundation, It pulled down and ripped apart, This tree bowed to its wake. A part of it held the forte, It only took a while, After spring, There was an awakening, It sprouted and budded again. November 6, 2022. Renascence, This or That, Vol 14 Poetry Contest, Edward Ibeh.