Yggdrasil

Odin’s Horse.

Noblest of trees.

where Gods assembled daily at their courts.

Nine worlds sat around you.

Your branches stretched towards the heavens –

home of wyrm, eagle and stags.

Your roots in three directions -

to spring and wells.

Creator of the valley dew.

at the onset of Ragnarok

you shivered and giants walked the earth.

A hart bites from above,

decaying on your sides,

whilst dragons chew from below.

Now loss of leaf

and ash dieback

destroy your ancient crown.

Necrotic spots

on stem and branch.

In summer.

born upon the breeze,

Chalara Fraxinea.