Small Boys/Big Trees

Small boys, big trees
his short embrace barely reached
third the way round
the largest Sassafras ever
bark deep, soft, tawny
sweet tonic leaves
far above, he must wait
for one to fall, and in the wait
looking way aloft, top unseen
unknown into sky
summer clouds ships at sail
and Robins' song, gold
sunset moments painting
shadowed bark, the windows
the warm walls inside.

Inside looking out at
Autumn leaves and

the black squirrels fast

at play round and round

and much later, that awful day

storm torn soft Sassafras

and the men who came to

fix the tree, biggest they've

ever seen, too bad about

the top and the boy grew

and the tree grew ill and

watched him move away.

The boy still holds the biggest

tree in morning's rise or

setting Sun, both gone

both together.