The neighbor struggled with the trunk

the huge tree that had marked his yard

had been cracked by wind and storm

it was no longer strong or safe

and so it had to come down

the tree towered over his yard and provided

beauty and balance to his place

but when it cracked in the wind

it was too far gone to save and so

he went to work trimming away at it

limbs taken one by one until

only the mighty trunk stood by itself

like the lone soldier of some defeated army

the last survivor on the battlefield

now the end drew near and people watched to see

how it would come out

the neighbor burnt up a chain saw on its armored trunk

even cut away at its roots

a slow death for the gallant tree

it fought valiantly against the saw but in the end

was finally overwhelmed

now look at it

laying there by the curb like some huge whale

washed up on the beach

people walk by and marvel at such a thing

it is a curiosity to be talked about

the trash man will come and take it away

but there is still that hole in the yard where it used to be

its death so noted with

a sense of grief in its passing

as humans we pay respects to those that have fallen

and mourn the death of any living thing

to one who gave us grace and inspiration

we mourn the tree that was.