Mark Stucky Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

Colors of fall leaves on trees are glorious, but among leaves of one mythic tree were seeds for humanity's Fall. A vision, however, of a different, mystical, restorative, timeless tree awaits us.

(First published in The Way Back to Ourselves, 14 April 2025. Scripture references: Genesis 2:9; 3:22-24; Psalm 137:1-6; Revelation 2:7; 22:1-19. See also my other eschatological poems "Bringing Heaven to Earth," "Resurrection iBodies," "Weedy Eschatology," "Haikus for the Heaven-Bound," and "Burger Kissing or Banquet Feasting?")

(Image by deeznutz1 on Pixabay.com and edited by the author.)

By Mark D. Stucky

The Tree at the Beginning and End of Time

In Eden’s primeval era,
in the Garden’s lush center,
what was the Tree of Life like
in all its mythic mystery?

Did its robust branches spread low and wide,
the perfect roost for birds and primates?
Did innocent birds sing joyously in their nests,
or was there a reverent hush within the leaves?
Were the countless emerald leaves long and broad,
ever blazing with brilliant phosphorescent glow?
Did its fruit radiate the color of crimson,
the juice oozing the nectar of redemption?
Was that everlasting Tree a divine gift
withdrawn from humanity for all time?

After Adam and Eve’s heartbreaking eviction
and humanity’s scattering to thistled lands,
what ensued in the enigmatic Garden,
after vanishing in first sin’s aftermath?
Did the Tree weep like a willow,
folding its branches in prayer
for some future redemption
and return to the Garden,
for them, for us,
for you, for me.

Is the tree weeping for us still,
like willows of Babylon wept
along with Jewish captives
who hung lyres in the branches,
while cruelly taunted by captors
during the long exile from Zion?

We too were exiled from Eden,
and exiled also from Zion,
exiled from one another,
exiled furthermore from God.
But lost exiles
can yet return.

In Revelation’s heavenly vision,
by the quiet river’s crystal water,
the Tree calmly awaits
the first couple’s return
to the renewed Garden
in its enhanced glory.
The eternal Tree beckons,
while waiting millennia,
for them, for us,
for you, for me.

The tree yields continuous, copious crops
of its shining, savory, succulent fruit,
and the soothing, curative leaves of the Tree
can heal hearts of humans who wish to come.

Will you come to the Tree,
behold its bright beauty,
inhale its fresh fragrance,
and savor its goodness?

Let’s climb that tree together,
resting on its wide branches,
to eat its unforbidden fruit
and use salvific leaves to wipe
sweet juices and salty tears
from our forgiven faces.

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