Most of the fey were sleeping the day the tree stump came alive
She had the most glorious hair, and the prettiest smile.
She gathered woodland flowers and decorated herself.
A handful were silenced by her gorgeous transformation
Will she remain human or resume her life as a stump?
It was a quandary best answered in the future.
She was a story teller, a nurturer, and a nature lover.
They appreciated her, knowing she could change back at any time.
I fell in love with a tree stump.
A quite curious stump was he.
No branches to thump.
No fall leaves to see.
But a very special stump was he.
There in the woods, other trees grew tall.
Swaying their limbs and leaves in the breeze.
But one special tree stump won my awe.
Once, tall and stately was he, before the freeze.
Now, short and sad hearted because of the saw.
I was weary, downhearted, and lonely.
When, I spotted that stump beside a pile of wood.
A perfect place to rest, it seemed to me.
I rushed right over as quickly as I could.
Then, sat right there, relaxed, and feeling so good.
While trees all around made their showy stance,
I sat and enjoyed from my comfortable stump.
He had no limbs nor leaves to wind-dance.
He had no branches to thump.
He was there for me to rest myself…by chance.
Pining alone, I fell in love with that tree stump.
A quiet refuge was he.
No longer sad, life became plump.
And my soul soared higher than one can see.
For he was there when I needed him…and he needed me.
© October 28, 2010
Dane Smith-Johnsen
Today I dressed and went out
for my daily roundabout
what started as a short jog
turned into a funny log.
I watched as she was worshipped
smelt, licked, never a day skipped
she was bathed in showers warm
from that bad dog's morning storm!
A proud thing, its head held high
enjoyed nibbles from her guy
kissed, embraced by the river
by her adoring beaver!
From the rains the night before
she woke and happily wore
her jeweled crown shining through
when from her womb mushrooms grew.
This last stump, a diff'rent kind
was quite lucky it could find
a lover, friend, chum, and pal
lucky he, but poor, poor gal!
I fell in love, with a tree stump,
Whose knotty bark, I climbed.
When I was just a little girl,
I would tuck myself inside.
It kept my treasures safe.
Hidden inside its little nook.
And there, I spent many hours,
Curled up, with a book.
I saw my stump less and less,
As I aged, and time passed.
Forgotten, it got over run,
By thorns and waist high grass.
The ants, decided to make it home,
All the other creepy crawlies too,
And as I watched it slowly crumble,
I bid my stump, adieu
He really was as dumb as a tree stump
Carried all his weight in his big old rump
But I fell for his line
And made him all mine
'Cause he was as sweet as dear Forest Gump
Dr. Seuss wrote of a strong Lorax
Who tried to save Earth’s Truffula Trees
From a foolish “Onceler’s” hacking ax
The Lorax warnings disregarded
Onceler used up the trees’ resources
Now penniless and broken hearted
Onceler made quite a tearful, sad plea
Lorax took pity, bestowed a seed
One final hope for Truffula Trees
Just like the Onceler, I now look back
At mall strips on former forestland
Spying something behind a big Mac
‘Tis the stump of a Truffula Tree
No, they never did make a comeback
Love for this stump, a sad amputee
Filled my heart, I wrapped arms around it
Wishing I could travel back in time
And reverse the Onceler’s work permit
Only when species become extinct
Do we fully appreciate their worth
Save them now; they hover on the brink
Written for Matt Calliri's Tree Stump Contest
I fell in love with a tree stump
Well, my wife's wooden leg
Part of that tree helps her walk
With another part, I made a keg
I fill that thing full of rootbeer
The keg I mean, not my wife
The leg I made from an old cedar stump
That I whittled out with my knife
She smells like Christmas all year long
Don't you just love that cedar smell?
Sometimes I use it to play with the dog
Makes a good back scratcher as well
In termite season she throws a terrible fit
They just won't leave her alone
She says she loves the leg I made
But she wishes I made it of stone
I fell in love with a tree stump
And then I started to think
With the rest of that stump I'll build an outhouse
The cedar will cover the stink
My house sits at the end of the street;
The school bus stops here two times a day.
I watch the children gather and meet;
Remembering my kids that have moved away.
Years ago the old oak tree had to come down,
Leaving a large round stump in the ground;
A perfect place for the little ones to sit,
Waiting on their yellow school bus trip.
I started leaving little trinkets in the stump,
And watched the surprised faces grin.
Their excitement and joy would cause them to jump
When they found the special gifts planted within.
The kids start showing up earlier each day;
Searching the crevices before starting to play.
Sharing the treasures with their other school friends;
I am always disappointed when another school year ends.
One evening when I went out to hide some small toys,
I saw a piece of paper rolled up in a clump.
In a child’s writing was; “From all the girls and boys”
“Thank you so much for being a love giving stump.”
etched on a tree stump.
the carved memories of us
lasting through the years
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