An Inspirational Piece
"The Heartwood"
By: Ashley Wood
You stand strong
tall and sturdy, like a tree.
A great maple,
at least 100 years old,
wise and mature
Watching out for the little
saplings underneath your shadow
Never shuddering in a storm.
The wind may blow some of your leaves to the ground
but new ones take their place
greener than ever.
I see the lightning come from the sky
and strike you down.
But you never break.
Never crack.
It burns your insides but you never let it escape
past the inner layer of the bark.
Your branches hold life;
holds the lives of your friends up.
Whenever they slip, you catch them
never letting them hit the ground.
Your roots extend farther than can be seen.
Effecting so many lives;
holding the soil in place
and allowing future trees to flourish.
People will come.
They will try to climb you.
Some will get far, others may give up.
But no one ever reaches the top.
The branches extend into the sun
Going farther than even the most experienced climber could imagine.
Someone may try to take an ax to your heart,
try to break you down,
But the bark it tougher than the bite.
They will never get through.
On the top of a hill you stand
looking after us all.
Children swing from your branches,
lovers picnic in your shade
and the occasional tree hugger might squeeze you tight.
When we look at a tree,
there is so much we don't see.
Where does the life come from?
What makes the leaves fall?
I have never seen this tree weep.
It's too busy standing there for others,
protecting the ones it holds close.
Being strong
for others.
Homes are not built from you,
but around you.
You never shake in the strongest wind.
But if you ever shudder
and need an anchor,
I will stretch my arms around you
and protect you from the rain.
For there is nothing more peaceful than hugging a tree.