The old tree

 There’s an old tree in the forest that, for hundreds of years, has never seen a single human being. Alone, it has grown and learned what to fear and what to welcome as shelter deep within its branches. 

It never feels lonely, as birds perch upon its limbs, and small animals of the forest find safety to nest and raise their young. 

This old tree drops acorns to the ground, where they are gathered and stored for the cold winter months. It communicates with the other trees in a secret language of its own.

When darkness falls, the tree sleeps as crickets chirp, owls hoot, and mothers softly sing their babies to sleep, all protected by the old tree in the forest.

I wish I could visit that tree and sit on its ancient roots, my back against its bark, looking up at centuries of growth and knowledge. I would be still and wait for the life within its branches to sing, knowing I meant no harm. I would wrap my arms around the ancient tree and say goodbye as I left it to its kingdom deep in the forest, where solitude is a welcome feeling. 

— Mike, 2025