She Stands Alone

She stands alone, both tall and true

The perfect picture of solitude

The soul of a woman encased in bark

 With limbs that move in a majestic arc

                            Alone she’s faced the storms of life

                            The wind and rain, disease and strife

                        Others gave up, but no, not she

                          And there she stands for all to see

                        She’s had her share of troubles and woes

                        But she made it through, and still she grows

                        Like her I too know grief and pain

                        I’ve faced the wind, I’ve felt the rain

                    And like her too, I still stand tall

                    Though life may beat me, I will not fall

                    It may throw punches, I may take a blow

                    But in the end I too shall grow

                    Each storm I weather increases my strength

                    And beneath this skin, my soul’s to thank

                The elm and I, we know what to do

                    We count on ourselves, and make it through.

                                                                               ~ Kelly Cook