ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Two ancient  trees stand as sentinels,

In winter their skeletal branches reach to heaven.

Entreating the God of creation,

To cover their nakedness,

With a blanket of protection from the elements.

When spring and summer slice through,

The bone chilling temperatures,

These majestic soldiers emit new life.

Squirrels scurry through their branches,

Always busy or in search of some waiting feast,

While birds prepare for the arrival of their young,

By constructing a protective home and soft bed for them.

Small green buds emerge,

They grow into a succulent, lush, emerald canopy,

Surrounding and nourishing the space below,

A sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of the urban world.

In autumn the greens fade into golden yellow, orange and rust,

The leaves hang tight until the first heavy snowfall of winter,

Preparing for the cycle to return once more.

Our life cycle is much like theirs.

We’re conceived from a tiny seed.

We force our way into this world with great labor,

We endure the seasons of life.

We bear the extremes of our emotions,

We give in to fear and temptation, Often just barely hanging on.

At times our world seems to overtake us and sap us of our strength.

With each new stage in life,

We absorb everything we can from it.

Trying to separate the truth from lies,

When our final hour comes, we succumb to death.

Through all the perils of living, we know that God has remained faithful.

Something even better awaits beyond this mortal coil.