The Old Oak
I once was a grand and old oak tree,
Wearing my crown with shades of green.
A protector of fields, a watcher of night.
I stood with my pride, till the mornings soft light.
I watched the burrows, and the gentle breeze,
I listened at a soft, and a mellowing wheeze.
I stood my ground, I saw people go by,
Watched small crawling bugs, and birds that could fly.
For years and years, I protected the earth,
I watched my leaves, on wind they’d surf.
The cold dark earth, gripped through my root,
I stood there helpless, as animals would loot.
The fruit I provided the land that I served,
An acorn, smooth, with a cap that curved.
A servant to life, a desire to survive,
Small animals came, on acorns they’d thrive.
That however, was a long time ago,
Nature got me with a cold and strong blow.
For years I had treated my earth with pride,
And protected my land, my whole life I’ve tried.
But earth didn’t seem to be happy with me,
As now it’s only the sky that I see.
A storm had struck, with winds so strong,
My anchoring roots, held on for so long.
I battled and fought, against perilous storm,
Whilst animals battled, to try and stay warm.
The battle of my life, had just begun,
Me against earth, my roots fell numb.
Throughout the night, the winds grew strong,
An ambush occurred, and my branches were long.
They were the first, to fall to my foe,
And it wasn’t the only thing to go.
The wind snatched my crown, it blew it away,
I stood there naked, and ashamed as it lay.
It scattered the floor, and covered the holes,
Where scared animals hid - rabbits, and voles.
My final stand, my crown on the floor,
A true protector, my leaves on their door.
As I shall die, the animals shall live,
As my crown of leaves, I selflessly give.
My roots are broken, are snapped and worn,
I lie on the floor, and I wait for the morn.
The wind had won, and blew me to ground,
To feel earth on my trunk, for there I am bound.
I saw life from a different angle that night,
I saw the birds, as they were in long flight.
I saw the bees, and I saw the stars,
I saw a planet, either Jupiter or Mars.
It was beautiful to see, as I lay on my back,
And saw glittering light, through a sea of black.
The animals came, as the black turned to red,
To comfort me, as I lay on my bed.
They weeped and they cried, as I looked to the sky,
As I saw pinks and blues, a ball of fire so high.
Soft clouds greeted me, and dimmed the light,
As I looked at horizons, to say goodbye to the night.
Copyright © Bradley Lane | Year Posted 2021
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