The Bleeding Tree

By a meander scar there stands a tree, a survivor of long history, in winter it does something quite strange, red sap seeps out, and the snow it stains. The scientists, they know not why, they’ve studied it from low to high, the only thing they’ll say for sure, is that this tree only bleeds in winter. Some say it traces back to a girl, who had eyes for one man in this world. She’d always met her lover at the tree, to be in his arms, serene and happy. But one night she went to see him there, finding only a rival’s jealous stare. His blade flashed and plunged in deep, she fell to the ground in eternal sleep. They say her lover killed that man, then never more by the tree did stand, until death came for him in time, he sat down by the tree, and did not rise… Does it weep for them? For true love burned? All we know is the tree bleeds in winter. Others think it dates to a hero’s retreat, dying as he stumbled on tattered feet. To the tree he went, and there he fell. Who was chasing him? They do not tell. He lay his sword there on the ground, and watched as gentle snow came down, a momentary peace as he left life, far from his family, friends, and wife. The people found him the next day, frozen and lying in a supine way… For this poor man does the red sap stir? Is that why it only bleeds in winter? Some say it’s because of a little child, a six-year-old girl, crazy and wild. She went out by the old tree to play, but too many hours out there she stayed. Her mother came out to look for her, but found no trace of her little girl, soon all the town was on the hunt, searching every corner for one so young. Never did they find her, trying so hard, word soon went out, and traveled far. Winter went by but no news came in, the sweet girl was never seen again. To this day, when the cold winds fly, near the tree you can hear a mother’s cry… Is that the cause, does it seep for her? Can’t say, we just know, it only bleeds in winter.