Majestic
In a cornfield by the road a giant oak grows
High and mighty it stands in a field of corn rows
Grand and majestic and reaching toward the sky it sways
Passed by many every day who travel on their way
Arms far outreaching welcome insects, squirrels, and crows
Bees buzz in the crotch of its limbs where death’s rot begins to show
With a trunk as big as a truck it stands strongly rooted in the clay
Butterflies flit about the trunk sipping sap from the crack where it lays
Broken limb hangs wounded fractured from a strong Nor’easter’s blow
Between it giant roots and toes fat puffy round foot fungi grow
It’s been around for a hundred years not sure how long it will stay
As cornfields turn into houses where the giant oak tree will lay
Green leafed canopy exchanged for greenbacks how soon we don’t know
Another wonder of nature gone with nothing more to show
Photos: Dwight L. Roth
I have shown this tree in some of my posts before, but I wanted to do a photo study of it now that the field is clear and easily accessible. I went on two different days and took photos as I walked 180 degrees around the tree. Each view gave a slightly different perspective, much the fable of the blind men describing the elephant! It is a gorgeous tree to walk around and under. Most drive by it every day and probably seldom give it a thought. The land was rezoned last year for 400+ houses which made me very sad. This is directly across from the entrance where I live. More houses, more traffic, and one less majestic oak.
Roth Poetry 