artwork by Lisa Morgan©2003(all rights reserved)
It happened on a silent night:
a night as black as coal.
No stars or comets graced the sky,
no sound did life bestow.
An ancient elm of gnarled bark
bereft of quivering leaf
cried silent tears of suffering
all lonely in his grief.
Why had he lasted all these years
while mantle at his feet
had withered with the rest; away
to decaying piles of peat?
He cursed the ground he cursed the sky:
Oh why; had life all shriveled and died
and left him standing here; atop
this balding hill alone?
But while he stood there self absorbed
reflections light the air,
for Evening’s song had heard her cue,
performances were rare.
She wrapped her veil around the elm
comforting him from heaven’s realm,
whispered mysteries in his ear
while dancing through his limbs.
Her gentle care had washed away
his momentary mood,
and turning ‘round to see her face
he exhaled from his roots.
She glistened and she shimmered
pirouetting on the breeze,
his heart no longer aching, then
he said to her with ease…
“Aurora, Oh Aurora, thou hast shone on me this night,
thou hast taken me to bosom, taken my entire plight.
No longer shall I curse the land or air in which I breathe,
If I live to be a thousand years I’ll do as ye bequeath:
To be a landmark on this Earth so man shall always know
the forest is a blessed place, take time to help it grow.”
She listened to his newfound voice
with bark a mellow glow,
then winked and shimmied around his trunk
in scarf of silken flow.
Her spectrum fluttered in and out,
at last it’s time to flee--
In just a millisecond more
she bowed out gracefully.
Another eve finds moonbeam’s light
on breezes soft as zephyr,
a brilliance seen upon the hill
though it glitters it's not silver.
An ancient elm of gnarled bark
is standing; glowing still--
A statuesque magnificence
of what love can instill.
Adding your comment:
Sandi 
Sandi
Sandi
~Melinda~
Thank you Sam, your most gracious thoughts mean the world to me 
Sandi
