Elegy for An Oak Tree
© 2018 by Abbie Johnson Taylor
It once stood in my back yard,
tall, majestic, graced by a treehouse.
This was the first to go,
since it was causing structural damage to the tree.
Then, the tree needed to be taken down
because it was leaning toward the house.
Now, there’s only an empty space
filled with sun and dirt.
But I still have memories
of sitting with the one I loved
in its shade on the patio.
***
The above poem was published in the May 7th issue of The Weekly Avocet, which can be downloaded here. I was inspired to write this poem years ago while doing an audio workout. The instructor said to stand like a tree, and I thought of the oak tree in my back yard. I wrote the poem while the tree was still there but revised it after the tree was taken down. It could use one more revision, since grass has since replaced the dirt. You can click the link below to hear me read it.
Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography
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