The Family Tree
                                                 
I come from a family of trees                                                            
rooted in tradition                                                                            
                          morality                                                                            
                          prejudice                                                                            
                          and pride.                                              
We’ve been up and down                                                
through death and divorce                                                               
                        rum and religion.  
                                               
Father died young                                               
he was a willow                                                   
          and a part of me died with him.
                                                 
But now,                                                
I sit in the shade                                                
of an Oak tree                                                
Mother Oak                                                
who spreads her branches                                                
to shelter us from the world.                                                
Without bending                                                            
             she’s weathered many storms.
                                                 
She knows me,                                               
for I am her.
                                                 
The acorn of her soul.
                                                                               
Tony Sexton