The Whisper of the Tree

Sat a stranger by a tree,
'mid the sorrow and debris.
Asked he to the people there:
"What has happened to this city fair?"

Not a word they to him uttered,
but stared at him-- did make him shudder.
Despite entreaty, they'd not deign
as began a gloomy rain.

Then a tree that he sat near
whispered quietly in his ear.
"They fear to speak," the Tree said sadly,
"of all the things that Man does madly.

"Once, this land did shine with peace,
all in comfort, all at ease,
but no peace made by man may last,
and like all others, it too passed.

"A war like none the world has seen;
the nights were filled by bomblights' gleam,
and while the world was still yet spinning,
Man did pay for all its sinning.

"So now, they fear to speak, my friend.
The guilt! The shame! 'Twil never end!
And so they work to beuild again
their city, even in the rain.

"But I am ancient, and I know
that from despair hope yet may grow,
and though they may not see it still,
I know in time these poor souls will."

Then the tree did silent fall,
and a hush was felt by all.
Then the stranger stood and said,
"Even here, hope isn't dead."

then donned his coat and on he went;
his time therein he now had spent.
And midst the gloomy shades of gray,
he saw bright flowers on the way.



-D.B.