The tree branches
were cold and bony;
they clawed at you
and hissed
as you walked past.
But when he was there,
the skeleton branches supported the sky;
their hisses became
whispers that shared
the whole world
with you.
They were fragile and delicate,
yet they could hold the hopes
of millions,
all wrapped around them
like a spiderweb.
When he was there
the branches loved,
but when he was
away they were bitter;
they sensed there was
something
amiss.