JUST A TREE

I informed my neighbor the bad news…that her old oak tree was dying

The old woman nodded that she understood and then she started crying.

As I watched her I thought to myself how odd…how silly can this old woman be

I can’t believe she’s crying…after all…it’s just a tree.

“My husband planted that tree right after we were married” she said

“He said, like our love we’ll watch it grow…

I can’t believe it’s been so long…that was 50 years ago…”

“I suppose you think I’m crazy…and it doesn’t make much sense to you

but our children climbed her branches…our grandchildren climbed them too.”

“She’s weathered the cold of winter, her Fall colors would burst…then fade,

she’d always come back to us in Spring and in Summer she’d offer up her shade.”

“We had many a picnic under her leaves…sometimes we’d just sit and stare

at the squirrels playing hide and seek and the birds who nested there.”

“And when my husband passed away…as my tears ran down her wood

I felt her branches engulfing me…as if she understood”

“Forgive me if I cry a little…but she’s been so important to me.

We’ve been through so much together…she’s been part of my family.”

And when they came to take her tree away…I knew she’d be feeling blue

So I went to her, I held her hand and asked, “Is it’s okay if I sit with you.”

I let her cry…I let her weep…for in the stillness I could see

That old oak they were removing

was so much more than just a tree.