There's a Tree that grows in a hole in our grassSince I first dug that hole over thirty years pass
Behind the garage and off to one side
It has stood there and watched our life scuttle by
Yes I dug the hole and up to my knees
And you picked out That Tree because of its leaves
We both gently set it down in its home in the ground
And filled in the dirt to a neat little mound
Tree didn't just sit as our lives merged to a life
As this poor husband learned to understand his dear wife
It grew as we did in love and counted heads
And laughed that we greatly underestimated our beds
It added its rings as we added our kids
It stood there and did the things that trees did
Grew taller and wider and filled outside from in
At times it was sick, at times it got thin
But just like our family, it fought and survived
It grew up and out sprouting new branches, it thrived
We watched o'er our family as Tree watched over us
It's leaves changed from green to gray, brown and rust
Our children grew up, our pets, well some died
Our tree stood there gently when 'neath it we buried and cried
Broken bones were results of broke branches the same
But those injuries were usually the results of a game
And that tree it stood there and gathered it all
Standing strong through the winter and back through the fall
Our children grew older they were our living proof
And our tree it grew bolder and covered our roof
It cooled us in shadow when the summer sun bright
It oversaw picnics lasting well into night
It watched over our family when we lost one with our name
Sheltered us when we wept, yes our tree did the same
We'd lost a child, pain no parent should know
But our tree it bent over, it's branches hung low
Our tree knew our heartache, shed leaves as we cried
Our tree wept along with us when our little boy died
But our tree gave us strength and just waited right there
In the spring after winter its buds filled the air
As leaves filled limbs and grief slightly fade
Our tree stretched its branches and provided us shade
Tree's been home to both birds and squirrel families here
And an owl used to rest on that branch over there
Some termites and ants and other small pests
And our dogs used its shade from the sun for a rest
From birthdays and parties and late night porch talks
Our tree it just waited when returned from long walks
Though time and disease made some branches weak
It's leaves remained full and sunlight would just peek
Some branches were culled with ladder and saw
Others came crashing down after cold winter's thaw
It grew just a little with a tilt to the house
As if saying, "yes, yes, your family I espouse"
As children moved on and left us alone
Our tree stayed right there as we all would have known
And grey hair filled in where once it been brown
Our tree lost more branches I picked from the ground
Now there are only the three of us left living right here
I stand at the counter, while she sits in her chair
And our friend who's not left us, he waits just outside
And patiently stands as the birds homebound glide
Grandchildren come over and climb up his bark
We all shuddered when one of them said, "chop him down for an ark"
No, our friend he'll be standing for long after we're gone
Behind of the house dissecting the lawn
Now one day he'll die or suffer the saw
Of some ne'er do well fool who hasn't the awe
To see our friend Tree stand in all of his glory
Let's all hope it's far off 'til the end of His story
