“The Willow”

Christopher Joseph

 

When rain cascaded, and the earth wore a veil of its tears,

You were there to shield me, oh Willow.

When the wind howled, and man’s dwellings shook in fear.

You were there to house me, oh Willow.

And when the air boiled under the hot sun,

You were there to shade me, oh Willow.

 

You were a guide to listen to as I became lost in the gloaming forest,

A mender when I lost sight of myself, when I blindly fell on delicate bones that haven’t fully developed,

You encouraged me to be earnest,

You kept our friendship enveloped.

Out of all the rich life of nature, you were the purest, the eldest.

Your love was truly incorrupt.

 

You always supplied luscious nectar for even the tiniest of creatures,

In your image, common men found reason,

They saw in you, a stronghold for the beggars

And with each passing season,

You supplied dazzling and heavenly flowers,

You were the epitome of fortune.

 

But, oh Willow! What have they done to you?

Have my eyes tricked me with this horror?

Here you lie, broken and askew!

They’ve soiled your beautiful nature!

Your summer blossoms will never bloom anew

They carry you away, and you stare at me as my image grows fainter.

 

Oh Willow, where are you now?

Have you left me alone, to decay in grief?

What remains of your vows?

Alas, they are gone, and I find myself in disbelief.

I had to leave what was left of your shrine as they came with their ploughs.

In my unwilling choice to move on, I took a seed and a leaf.

 

And when rain cascaded, and the earth wore a veil of its tears,

Nobody was there to shield me, oh Willow.

When the wind howled, and man’s dwellings shook in fear.

Nobody was there to house me, oh Willow.

And when the air boiled under the hot sun,

Nobody was there to shade me, oh Willow.

 

But here lies a new hope for us, oh Willow!

For the seed, yes the seed, holds the light that you once held.

It grows to be as strong as you were, so long ago.

You no longer have to worry about your child being felled.

Your illustrious memory will regrow...

In this new generation, holding the key to excel.