Marked Initials On A Tree Poem by ronald meseck

On hills sloop near a river stood that special tree
East and west mountains vested it deep in a valley
It was near that tree where they first met one day
They young, starting school, it was on their way

After school one warm afternoon they stopped to stare
Watching squirrels gather acorns and birds glide in air
Under branches laden leaves they enjoyed togetherness
They laughed and played - life to them was so effortless

They picked dandelions and yellowed each other under the chin
Days later they gathered those stems with fluff to blow to the wind
He brought rope and some boards, on a limb built each a swing
Lazily they'd go back and forth listening to the birds in concert sing

Young they were possessing that undenying love,
wondering what each other was deeply thinking of
They met nearly every day beneath that shady tree
Sitting sharing thoughts enjoying natures beauty

They being nine and ten with nature on their side
He said to her with a smile opened long and wide
"I brought a knife, let this tree be only for you and me"
In its bark they carved their initials LM and an ampersand JD
(LM & JD)

In their early teens with amorous intentions in infancy
Deeply in love mentally but no interactions yet physically
Hormonal buds unfurling approaching full blossom
Love flowers were growing to be outright awesome

Mid teens struck them as if the heft of the heavens had fallen
As full loads of each other love they now were hauling
He took her hand and placed it firmly in his to start,
together around those initials they etched a double heart

Beneath the umbrella and shadows of that mighty oak
There on bent knee is where these words to her he spoke
"Will you be mine true as now and through eternity"
She said, "Yes, let our everlasting love be our destiny"

He was an enterprising young man, saving money his plan
Not surprising was that he purchased that oak tree and its land
Beneath its mighty boughs they took their matrimonial pledges
With hearts rippling love they watched rivers overflowing edges

With love devotions and heavenly blessings their family grew
An annual picnic was held there in mountains captivating view
There in trees trunk they'd carve a X for each new family member
as each was a gift of those additional kisses forever to remember

Each spring in their waning age they'd go there to sit and reminisce
Holding hands it was maybe where they shared that millionth kiss
Looking back in time remembering saying those precious yeses
Living life in bliss they knew what love in whole all so possesses

LM & JD have departed a hundred years since to their Masters retreat
Yet new X's mysteriously appear onto that aging stump nearly every year
Their headstone and ashes buried not far and within roots tangling reach
Maybe they are now a part of that tree which in life to them was so dear