A Sign Post for Woulds That Now Are Was.

A Sign Post For Woulds That Now Are Was.

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The huge, old maple tree stump

was cut rather short to allow some

electrical lines up above to pass by

without limbs growing there,

and then breaking communication.

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I climbed it to check

on the age of the tree,

it was easy, what was left

was just signpost high.

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Then I noticed new growth

just beginning to form,

as this old tree struggled

hard to live on,

and I grew philosophic,

as I looked at those rings

and guessed just what might

lie inside each layer formed.

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Comanche carved symbols
on the innermost rings,
aids to marking out trails 
to a tribes sustenance sought.

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The fourth and the 
fifth ring contain 
hatchett cuts,

blood stained
where a lone pioneer
amputated a finger
while chopping this tree
for a structure called home.

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Bullet holes mar 
many spots at the sixth
near misses for soldiers
who fought civil wars.

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A nail hole from
maple syrup pails
scars the eighth
back when sap ran
in pure amber gold.

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History lies buried
around every layer
in old hieroglyphics
etched deeply by man.

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The name of a dog 
who was one's faithful friend
is neatly hand carved
in the tenth ring above
while his old bones 
lie buried below.

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And not far beneath
the new cover of bark
is a heart with two names
left incised,
two lovers kissed there
and he noted his joy
from a love that 
was lost long ago.

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A canvas it stands
for the next 
wood have beens
near a shadowy forest
with many more rings
to surround what's to come,

scratched beneath
curved perspectives
left by all who someday

might come wandering by.

((((((((((((((((O)))))))))))))))))))))