Treetops

This poem was written shortly after my nephew passed away. He was five.

Our time here is short

Let's not waste words.

Slip back, slip back,

Deep into the woods.

Run into the woods

Explore and be amazed,

At the giant sequoias

The towering shadows maze

Of thick and broken branches

Older than the scars

Drawn like battle lines

Across your chest.

So many falling stars,

Such little time left.

So go, spread forth

Your wings, little boy

And fly, fly higher than the

Forest creature's nest.

Past the oldest and tallest

Of the redwood trees.

Don't look back,

No, never look back.

We'll look up instead.

Not a branch too high

Nor a tree too tall

Keep climbing, dear boy

And soar past us all.