THE LITTLE TREE
Though my little girl eyes
I watched my mother,
as she dug a hole in the ground.
I sat beside her silently,
careful not to make a sound.
She measured the roots
and dug the hole just right.
She picked up the little tree,
looked at me,
then carefully
lowered it down into the hole-
and with magic fingers
replaced the soil.
I asked her how big
the tree would grow.
She said as tall as
the others on our street,
maybe 20 or 30 feet.
When we moved away,
I would have to say
that the tree was halfway grown.
We often wished we could
take it with us and plant it
at our new home.
That was so many years ago...
I came thousands of miles
with my own family
to my hometown, just last week.
Then I took them to my old house,
and I couldn't believe-
tears filled my eyes
when I saw that old tree.
Oh mother, I wish you
could see it now,
how it stands so tall and proud,
I swear it almost touched the clouds!
I think you must have
reached down from heaven,
and watered it with your tears.
I'm sure you've watched
and protected it
for all these passing years.
That tree is the grandest
tree on our street,
though I'm sure somehow you know.
From the skies above,
with your love,
I know you've helped it grow.