O Eldest Tree,
I look at your gnarled hands
which have witnessed all our history
as you sit in Time’s grassy lands.

You were already ancient when
we capped the great pyramid,
Long before that, you were Gilgamesh’s Haven
Under your leaves Adam hid

Methuselah scrawled his name in your bark,
your siblings built Noah’s Ark,
for Moses your leaves blazed in shame

Jesus smiled upon your leaves,
Buddha pondered the universe, your branches eaves
of the Great Prophets.

O Eldest tree
sheathed in mystery
all life bows before you,
including Ozymandias- who fell and swore.

When we knew no words
you spoke daily with birds,
before we built our Babel
you knew the River’s gabble.

O Eldest Tree
When you look at me,
So short lived, so tiny,
what is it that you see?

Am I even a drop in
the ocean of eternity?
To you, Eldest Tree,
where does my place begin?

Eldest Tree
please look at me
tell me I have meaning
something from me worth gleaning

For I feel like a wind
tossed in your leafed tresses
another of Earth’s messes,
O Eldest Tree.

O Eldest Tree,
Set in Time’s Sands,
Old when we capped the pyramids,
O Tree of Merlin’s staff,
I try to etch my name on you,
but my knife’s too dull
to pierce your adamantine skin.
~
NM
2/12/21