Like a dead oak tree, there is no life in me. I stand tall and have yet to fall, but still no life, you see?
I was born in a desolate area; began as a single seed. I was different from the rest of these trees of this common type of breed.
Many thought they knew about me as I may have appeared; I had leaves full of life and stood tall against fear.
I gave shelter and comfort; was understood by few. Others loved me for who I was but most used me for my attributes.
I had no problem with it, for it gave joy to the world; from all who came to me and stated they loved me, I only felt it from one girl.
This one person, ever so kind, was one soul I thought I'd never find.
Someone who took care of me and helped my life go on; the pureness of water, her innocence I was very fond.
The rich, healthy ground, her foundation so steady; the air that she breathed into me was anything but petty.
Though the elements took their toll, close like bonds we made; she was my tree lover as I was her shade.
We encountered the world together and made it through the rain. We shared big parts of our lives; both beauty and pain.
I had her name carved onto me for the whole world to see, but time moved on while I stood still; now she's experiencing the world without me.
Now I'm alone with no one to watch over me; alone in this valley where there are no other trees.
So now my leaves are gone; now my life withered away. I let the elements take their time day by day.
Very few still come by, but see how different I am now; they see I've changed and they think they know how.
Like most trees, they grow and wither over time; they don't get their vital nutrients or lack the beautiful sunshine.
But me, I'm a different breed; not a whole lot of needs. I chose to go down the path of my slow demise instead of being overtaken by weeds.
Through the roughest of winds and the harshest of storms, I stand tall though I'm broken and torn.
I appear lifeless and little to give to you, but I still serve some type of purpose that's understood by few.
I'll take on the elements till I am cut out from this world; but I'll always remember the ones who gave me life, my closest friends and family, and one special girl.

My longing for a different setting outside the window I wake up to quite obviously told me that I was ready to get out of here. Out of this house and out of this town.
    I wake up next to leaveless trees and an empty field. I long to look out onto other houses and a mailbox. And while this may seem ordinary and mundane to you, it means everything to me. I've grown tired of the solitude this house gives me. I used to be grateful for the space it provided, but I've realized I was only trapped inside a larger prison cell.
    And you can laugh all you want and tell me everyone feels this way, but my dreams are filled with neighborhoods and parks I can walk to in places far away from here. I fantasize about the day I will hold a one-way plane ticket and boxes full of my things because if you were to ask my what I hate about this place, my answer would gladly roll off my tongue, but if you were to ask me what I like about it, you'd have to give me a few days.
    And don't get me wrong, I've made some good friends and great memories here, but I have to get out.

Bright yellow, sweet smelling flowers
Surrounded by leaveless trees under grey winter skies
I want to cut them, keep them for my own
Dazzle my eyes and my eyes alone
With their brightness
Their yellow colour of hope
Hope that spring will come again
That leaves will sprout green and whisper secrets with the breezes
Too cold even for the grass to be green
But the daffodils, burst forth baring the colour of the sun
Promising hope.....

Time passes,
The day gets dimmer,
And all I ask
Is for my soul
Not to get cold this winter.

The trees become leaveless,
And with her out of the picture,
I don't want to smile.

Don't want to smile,
Yeah, don't want to smile.
With her out of the picture,
I don't want to smile.

The Sun can't warm me in this chill,
I'll have to cover my head.
Conversations aren't followed,
I drift off from what is said.
Stuck in one position,
As memories lay at my side.
I'm not willing to move past this,
No, no I just watch as

Time passes,
The day gets dimmer,
And all I ask
Is for my soul
Not to get cold this winter.

The trees become leaveless,
And with her out of the picture,
I don't want to smile,

Don't want to smile,
Yeah, don't want to smile.
With her out of the picture,
I don't want to smile.

I look out the window,
Seeing everyone jubilant,
All laughing in unison.
I guess life is funny.
I'm out of place,
Oblivious to the present,
I only see yesterday.
Tomorrow shines at a distance.
The Moon watches me as

Time passes,
The day gets dimmer,
And all I ask
Is for my soul
Not to get cold this winter.

I look up for awhile.
With her out of the picture,
I don't want to smile,
No, don't want to smile,
With her out of the picture,
I don't want to smile.

(c) 2014 Brandon Antonio Smith


(Originally written sometime in 2010?
Revised 9/29/14)

Shall I tempt you this night
with the grinning moonlight
silhouetting leaveless trees
flailing in the breeze

sprinkled across the sky
a billion star eyes
tally the winks they emit

silently ponder nature's picture
lets peel it back, take a peek
at what's beyond

run wild with anticipation
find answers to the question
then question why
and wait for a reply

In the dying of the light,
A single dew drop falls
A lonely lover, brought to tears,
Into the darkness calls

A single star, over head,
Leaps from the velvet sky
Mournful laughter in the wind,
Slowly starts to die

Leaveless trees that line the lane,
Are shaken by the breeze
And the lonely lover who called to the night,
Loses her soul with ease

silky moonlight glowing against the
***** window,
the dandy long leg tree
oh so familiar
and leaveless swaying
to the rhythm of the rain.
sharing the sky, orange candle
glimmers of cities far away,
coyote piercing the winter air
with howls of sorrow,
The hare must have gotten away.