There's a Tree

There's a Tree that grows in a hole in our grass

Since 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