The Tree

Above, the sky was a bright blue Clouds, white, swum lazily Sun shone bright Breeze blew gentle.

Atop the tree, on the highest branch A new leaf, slender and green Soaked in the sun and danced in the air. Other leaves wished how they could be At the top, at the very top.

Humming happily to itself, the leaf, Humming happily to itself Nothing above me But the empty, vast sky!

Trembling in glee, the flower buds Blushed, Dreaming of the bees And the fruits they will bear.

The branches huddled, Gravely discussing the season The weather, how stronger and longer They should grow; They had their targets to meet.

The bark of the trunk, bit worried Wondered how to tackle The rise in termites The whims of the woodpeckers And the nuisance of squirrels Nibbling the bark just for fun.

Beneath the soil Matters had taken a worse turn The roots were in confusion And fear Of the fickle rains And the hard rocks deeper.

Birds flew, wind blew Sun set and the moon rose.

In the dark As the owl hooted As bats erupted in and out The tree sighed For it knew It was its last night.