A glowing Tree. A glamorous Tree.
Birds of far forests fly to thee.
Plentiful acorns stashed deep in thy trunk.
Woodpeckers perch, searching for a bunk.
At its base, sprouts a vine.
"Who are you?" it asks with curious eyes.
"A Tree of the forest," said it with great might.
"It's dark down there, climb my trunk to find light."
So the little Vine went, scaling its bark.
Climbing branch by branch, climbing yard by yard.
The birds heard the word and chirped a cruel song,
For infamy lies in the household of the vine.
Reached the top, basked in the sun.
Hung the fiery ball: bright, unique, one.
Yet a cardinal mutters, "It's stealing its light.
The murderer is choking our great, lively Tree!"
Till termites came and gnawed at its roots.
Eating bit by bit, taking all they could.
With the Tree came a thunderous boom.
There it lay. Cold, lifeless, and certainly shameful.
The Vine lay by its side, helpless and hurt.
While wild critters came and whispered
Of the terrible, terrible things it had done.
As the Vine shriveled away, down to dark depths.