The Old Oak Tree

If a tree could see and hear, what memories would they have...? (Written for a contest on Allpoetry, in which it received an honourable mention, and later a gold trophy in a different contest.)

I stand here quietly, all alone on my little hill,
    watching the world pass by.

It's sunny and dry today, unlike a few weeks ago,
    when it seemed as if the rain would never stop.

I remember when two boys ran under my branches
    for protection from a sudden downpour.
One of them said they shouldn't come near me,
    because lightning might strike and set me afire!
His words frightened me; I've never been struck before.
    And I hope I never am...
I have some birds nesting in my branches,
    along with a family of squirrels.
They need me. I like being needed...

Oh! Here come a young man and woman
    to sit between my knarled, buckling roots.
It looks like they have a blanket
    and a large basket with them.
How wonderful! It's been a long time
    since I've played host to a picnic.

I still remember one, years ago,
    when my bark was still smooth and uncracked.
The boy confessed his love for the girl,
    and proposed to her right here.
She accepted, and promised to stay with him forever,
    and he carved their names into my trunk.
It was a painful experience, but I didn't mind
    having a heart etched into my side...
It reminded me of those tattoos
    a lot of humans have on their bodies.
Plus, I enjoyed the thought of forever displaying
    the love of that boy and girl to the world.

I glance down at the young couple,
    now seated at my base.
The girl brought some seeds to scatter for the birds
    watching from my branches.
They are quick to dart down and accept the free meal,
    while the humans laugh with delight.

Just then, the boy reaches into his pocket
    and brings out something small.
I have a hard time seeing it,
    but I think I catch a small flash of light.
The girl must have seen it, too,
    because she gasps, with her hands over her mouth.
The boy gets up on one knee,
    and then I suddenly understand what it is.
He doesn't need to say the words,
    nor does he even have the time,
because the girl is hugging him tightly,
    laughing and crying.
She's still crying as he puts the ring on her finger,
    and then they kiss...

The boy is standing in front of me now,
    tracing his finger along the old, faded heart.
The girl is starting to clean up the food,
    when she looks up at him.
She asks what he's doing, and he tells her about the heart,
    how it was carved by his father for his mother.
Amazed, I only now notice the resemblence...
    he looks just like his father did, all those years ago.
I am glad to know that the heart
    (as painful as it was) was not carved in vain.

Then, the boy begins to carve their own heart,
    just below his father and mother's.
He says that he hopes their children
    will also come here with their loves.

As I watch the happy couple walk away, hand in hand,
    I echo that wish in my heart.
Oh, to see more signs of love carved into my bark
    for the whole world to see!
I will still be here, alone on my little hill,
    waiting for the next generation to come.

So, may your love last at least as long
    as the heart you've carved on me!

 

 

Originally written August 3, 2007

Reviews

[constancelovesdarkness]

awee.. that was soo cute. it brought a lil tear to my eye. I like how the its kinda like a family tree per say where they can carve their love. it also reminded me of the Giving Tree.