Ode to a Beautiful Blossoming Tree

Ode to a Beautiful Blossoming Tree

The owners of the house in which we live

has a gorgeous tree in front

and I watched as it grew up these years

stretching up to its Creator

From our big picture window

just below the sloping roof

the branches upward grew and grew

and the sparrows came to sing to me

Well, it started getting unruly, branches
dashing up against our windows

as if to come in from the cold

whenever there was rain, snow and wind.

But trees don't live inside.

Thursday two big truck-monsters came

and parked in front of the house

and draped a yellow streamer
around that gorgeous tree.

One hour later, there was a much shorter,

thinner and refined tree

left naked, forlorn and

shy in front of the house

exposed to the brightness of day.

It was unruly, climbing up to Heaven

and stretching out into the street

pushing itself across to the school

as if to caress the morning children

and claim its dominance on
among the other trees.

In its boldness it was admirable
and when it bloomed every Pesach

with big white blossoms

the scene was amazing, dazzling
an array of whiteness ... like heaven.

But now, birdies without a home

to serenade the sparks of dawn
and hide as evening nears
and my windows are very very lonely.

It looks so utterly alone down there

and I wonder what it will do
when it attempts to dress up
in its blossoms and leaves this spring?


@2010