poem of the day September 30

How does

a tree know

when to give 

itself up after

revolving around 

its own foundation 

of wooden memories 

since it was planted

soon after the civil war

Swirling in circles

year after year

the tree grew tall and humble 

selflessly providing sweet sugar

while shading the farmhouse

through all kinds of weather

Until the last rain

when half of the old dying maple

fell and became 

yet another giving tree

Giving me the warm gift 

of winter firewood