Sonnet I Poem by Joseph Cross

Ancient creature as strong as Earth and Time,
What gave thy strength to stand through ages past?
Didst thou stand without conviction of crime,
Or at thy brilliant sight did death fade fast?
Were thou lovelier than any other?
Didst thou conquer all who dared oppose thee?
None is lovelier than a child’s mother,
And far too many lived thy fall to see.
Thou art the only creature I admire,
Though time hath taken its toll upon thee,
Embodiment of dearest heart’s desire,
I choose to allow thee to now be free.
Though time may pass o’er hill and shadow dark,
Let none forget thee, born of life’s first spark.