Beauty Hollow

She stands, a proud and hollow tree

grown through both foul and fair,

ring and root laid on by time

through sorrow, joy, and care.

Upright yet through wind and storm

while floods have raged around,

still she endures the savage wrath, 

her roots stretch, deeply bound.

Surviving water, quake and fire

her secret heart abides:

all while the smallest foes assail

the rot her beauty hides.

A wonder to the few who see:

majestic, strong and tall,

for all the wounded core within,

she, aching, gives her all.

'Til on a softer, warmer day

Unwarned, the sparrows sing

within her green-crowned branches,

as winter yields to spring.

None will hear the sudden crack.

The sparrows, frightened, fly.

Alone with butterflies and bees,

her trunk splits ground to sky.

Torn below the blue-lit sky,

she lies fallen, dark and black.

Life pauses for a moment

within her gaping crack.

Strength and beauty slowly fade,

as tender green now creeps.

To earth she softly crumbles. 

Past striving, now she sleeps.