As I was walking around the block this morn

I came across a tree limb which had fallen

Across the road, blocking any & all traffic

When I attempted to move it out of the way -

                                 I panicked



For as I dragged it all the way across the road

I felt a tremendous pull on me which did goad

Me into believing I was dealing with a monster

But as I looked around - I could see the onset



Of another problem which had not occurred to me

The limb I pulled was still attached to the tree

By a very fine root which had somehow travelled

All the way from base to where it'd unravelled



Twining itself in circles ... quite all around

The limb, which it had strangled - quite bound

And now I saw the tightrope I had pulled across

The road, and realized there'd be more to toss



And so I pulled hard at the root to get it free

But it would not release itself from the tree

I finally gave up, and then extricated other end

Which was still wrapped around the rest of friend



And pulled it back across the road to its home

Buried well under ground - yet really so all alone

And I identified myself then - with that one root

Knowing full well - it was telling me its own truth



I am so attached to the soil from which I grow

I cannot extricate myself no matter how towed

For my life has become so bound up in branches

It just wouldn't be possible to play hunches



Which might take me away from this ground

Upon which I've sat now for almost a round

Quarter of a century, which will be next year

When I shall celebrate my rooting with tears



For even though there's been good times and bad

The fact I've been here this long is not so sad

For I have become like the tree limb up the road

So tied up to the rest of the trunk - I'm sewed.



- Tristram