Four Trees Standing

Four trees standing, side-by-side; the yoke splits

When the speaker breathes, down the middle, red-yellow hands.

The storm comes, the leaves shiver, the trunk sinks.

One stands tall, bark straight out, gnarled arms upright.

Others rustle when staunch Ego is in charge,

Silence has no place considering this one.

Yet, look, here, now the fires are at large!

They didn’t listen, no Sir, now they roar!

The blush of rosy Dawn, usually so calm,

Now bursts to gold as the new sky stands firm.

When the Sun breaths deep, a wind-like psalm

Bristles the trees, bringing out their sighs.

How pretty it is, that great golden orb,

Blossoming sweet buds erupt on all four.

Yet how many still cannot absorb

The bark that contorts in smiles and joy?

The last has awoken, recalling all.

Their friends won’t last, not one, no way!

Shaking its leafy head, Web will call!

The trap was set, the snares burst up.

The others shrink, they rumble and fall –

Felled trunks spill up, a pile of rotting bark.

Now Web stood all alone, the shouts stop.

Dawn is quiet, cloud cover has prevailed.

Even Ego’s leadership needed a strop!

That tree needs something sharp, indeed…

Only Sun still glowed but a flicker,

A memory of the joy from the day.

When Web saw, it wanted to bicker,

Wanting the dark to enmesh and coil.

But Dawn’s morning vigil had woken all,

And Web’s mistake was believing the dark.

The Witness saw, making Web feel small,

Now they shrink, threatening to fall.

“No, child, stand up with your friends.

Remember you need each other, that’s for sure.

Back-to-back, you’ll see each other to the end,

And Ego, Dawn, Sun, and Web will weather any storm.”