What Once Was

This morning
the light extinguished
at the foot of the old tree.

The men have come
with their chain saws
to take down
the lifeless body
of what once was so vibrant,
providing shade for the house,
a refuge for the birds
who sang their song
to the rising sun.’

The chime gone,
no longer for the wind
to play with.
Now your limbs, your wood,
Old Tree,
will give warmth
to me in the winter,
and with each flicker of flame
I will thank you
for what you gave to me
so generously
every glorious summer day.