The Love of a Lifetime

As your roots sank deeper into the soil
Seeking nourishment to sustain the sheer force
Of your trunk and bountiful branches
I flowed freely beneath you,
Carving valleys from the land
We both later traversed as sprightly deer
Meandering in the dense foliage surrounding us
Eventually acting as
A momentary site of refuge
For a weary pack of wolves
Eager to rest our heads
After a long day’s hunt
Yet still mindful
Of predators lurking in the shadows
Awaiting nightfall to appease their insatiable appetites
In preparation for the coming winter
Which although known to overpower even the most formidable of bears
Remained unable to quell your fearless willpower-
Tenacity serving you well in future times of leadership and battle
Which you wore as proudly as the ornate, black armor
Shielding you from the lethal blows of your opponents
I reluctantly witnessed as a young tiger
Yearning to protect you from inevitable strikes to the head and gut
Leaving you mortally wounded-
Reminiscent of the emotional scars
From previous relationships tattering our hearts
Yet which quickly dissipated
Subsequent to passionate embraces
That left us yearning to explore
The depths of a connection that has persisted throughout many lifetimes