The old tree
More ancient than any
Stands knarled and twisted at the forests' center
Holding the heart of the woods deep within
Guardian of secrets and stories
Mmories of lives long past
Moss covered and twisted
So much history within its ken
But fragile limbs
And moss-slick surfaces defy climbers
And the crevices and caverns within its trunk
House generations of creatures
Who have always know its sheltering bulk
Listen, hold very, very still
Quiet even your breathing and mind
And it will whisper stories to you
Scary ones and merry
Heartbreak and dancing
Stories of sunlight and yound limbs dancing
Fledgling birds lauched from nests in its branches
Newfound love in it's shade in yourger days
Hunters who leant against it in a pause in the chase
Animals leeing skyward as predators circled below
And always, always it will tell you
If you listen, if you are silent and still
You will hear it tell of endurance
And it, longer than memories, will abide
And only time
Will outlast it