Like a sapling in rich dirt planted,
watered, fed, cared for, aerated
growing stronger, taller, fuller
gaining leaves, blossoms yearly
maturing into a long lived tree,
enduring, able to survive through
inclement, rough winds, weather,
so too, do we take root and grow.

From embryo on, our growth
much more complex of course,
yet we do grow, blossom out,
gain maturity, buck elements,
navigate through our adversity,
survive rough times, multiply
learn, combat, conquer diseases
survive to arrive at a senior age.

Neither sapling nor embryo
programmed for life eternal
over the years grow weaker
are more prone to diseases
boughs, trunks, branches
succumb,  whither, falter,
while humans grow frail, fail
man and tree to dust return.

Herbert Holzbauer
© October 2006

Midi: "Evergreen"
(www.sangmok.co.kr)

Graphic: "Tree Painter"
(Ingo Ruhnke)
(seul.org/gumbel/tmp)