Cripple Tree

Cripple Tree
by Betsy McKenzie

A crippled tree,
Broken by a bolt
From the sky, and
Bent crooked.
By decades
Under the weight
Of its leaning
Partner
In the forest.

Yet it lives.
Grizzled,
It puts forth
Green leaves
In the spring.
And nuts
In the fall.

Birds nest
In its
Tangled crown.
Frogs sing
In choirs
Among the
Branches
Raised to heaven
Like arms
In praise.

It pushes
Forth
Its life.
Like water
From a
Small spring.
Pierced
To the
Heart,
It yet
Explodes
With the
Light
Of Life.

Oct. 3, 2006

The marvelous image of a bent tree comes from Dennis Paul Himes' blog on hiking he has done at http://home.cshore.com/himes/dennis/traillog/traillog.htm The photo was taken in the Green Mountains of Vermont according to the blog, at Long Trail, near Glastonbury Mountain, June 12, 2005. What awesome photos and amazing hiking!