Roots offer sustenance,

Pooled rain creating a natural water bowl

For a passing visitor,

The dog bowing its furred head for communion,

Reverently sipping before being pulled along by its owner.

The trunk stands

Sturdy, Hardy, Stoic,

Supporting the boughs,

The needs of the rest of the tree,

Grounded against the storms,

The tossings and turnings of life,

Branches stretched to accommodate

Feet that are beginning to poke through worn sneakers,

Grasping hands that climb ever higher,

Reaching

Reaching

For the tippy top,

How far can the child climb?

Leafy canopy providing a natural awning

For a soul in need of shade,

A refuge of shadow,

A bulwark against parental tyranny,

A place to dream beyond the backyard,

A sanctuary