The Hapless Tree

The Hapless Tree
(free verse)

If you can imagine, a seed is planted.
A tree is born in the still cold days of spring.
Scarcely fed and barely noticed, it grew.
Instead of tall and strong, it grew spindly and short,
its leaves turning sickly green and falling early.
For reasons unknown, another tree was planted
beside the puny tree although better ground was available.
It took pity on the little tree and reached out to her.
It's strong roots entertwined with hers, feeding it, sheltering it.
In time, the leaves on the tired tree grew greener, smoother
and stayed on the tree longer until, one day, there was fruit.
As the years passed the short little tree got fatter.
While its limbs were strangely shaped, even mangled in places,
like knitting yarns hopelessly tangled, it was surprisingly strong.
For some odd reason, the tree beside it who saved it
died first, the victim of a raging fire by a careless stranger.
The short little tree lived on, remembering,
always thankful for years of love by the tree who had cared.