maple mine

Both strength and shade, my maple give,

Red carpet every fall

In hollowed knot, the blue birds live

The snake once came, they can't forgive

That stifled fledgling call

This tree held fast to beam and gale

She suffered breaks and bends

Pocked with wounds, I heard her wail

Woodpecker's beak, the driving nail

Such curse, her branches fend

In her side, I turned a screw

In search of friends to feed

Housed in glass, the nectar stewed

For hummer's tongues, the stealthy few

My maple's side did bleed

That maple mine saw winter's snow

She glittered and she snapped

Upon the fire, she shone a glow

And gave me heat she thought she owed

To calm me while I napped

My child did watch this maple rise

No rut for her to climb

But gave her shield against the skies

A place to sit to salve her cries

And peaceful scores of time

The age, it came to take my tree

Exhaustion stilled by pride

Split in half, my eyes to see

Majestic she'd no longer be

Death's door, she snuck inside

The hands that came, prepared a tomb

In cavern of a truck

They failed to see each tiny shroom

That fed on her returning bloom

And hardy stump that stuck

Her roots remain in webbed course

For sisters, does she reach

With fading strength, her tendrils force

Through soil they send their deep remorse

As grubs and beetles feast

I found my feet upon her grave

To say my last goodbye

Thanked her for each gift she gave

Touched her rings and gently waved

Her ghost into the sky