The broken branches
The barren tree
Bereft of insects
And fluttering leaves
Ancient oak
White and tall
Legendary
Among them all
The base was brown
Now calcified
Or is it ossified
Till it’s fossilized
Where ostracized
Lovers carved their name
And promised
To return again
Where children
Once reigned
In make shift forts
The tree now holds
The many eons of echoes
Masses of memories
Soon to be released
To you and me as we please