Once Upon A Tree Poem by Carolyn Brunelle

A symbol of strength and endurance
I can't bring myself to take it out.
It should've starved at the roots
but managed to eek out something
from depleted soils, lack of water
and attention in leaner years.
Predator vines and disease enveloped
the trunk,
limbs twisted themselves
grew into odd shapes;
and yet it survived.
It lives still, healthy now because it
has all it needs to flourish,
although the struggle of the early years
have left their permanent scars.