Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Maple Tree (Original)

This was the tired time you have tried this hour,

To climb the huge Maple tree just off the side of your house

Its huge trunk was intimidating and it's height even more so.

It was impossible.

The cold, snow covered ground was packed hard under your feet.

You pace, bitter cold wind hits your raw, red face.

It hurts but you're not giving up that easy.

You're like Superman, the world needed saving and you're its only hope.

You palm the rough, brown bark again with your mittened hand.

It was definitely impossible.

You look down at your big brother'd dull track cleats clad to your numb feet.

He was going to be so mad when he finds out.

The were missing teeth, like the shark you saw in TV yesterday.

You suddenly wonder why no one has come to look for you yet.

It's been two hours after all.

They must be busy, as usual.

You look back up at the tree,

You grasp onto the thin, leafless limb that was

closest to you.

It dips slightly under your weight as you start to climb.

The adrenaline is pumping through your veins again.

You tell yourself you think you can, you're the little engine that could.

Your legs follow your arms.

You're learned from your past failed attempts that the next branch was a trick.

It was halway broken,

Like the baseball bat your brother broke when he hit his last homerun of the season.

You were higher than you had ever gotten before.

You could see the tippy, tippy top of the tree now.

One last stretch and you'll be there.

Your heart pounding like the Road Runner from the Looney Tunes.

But you were faster than him.

You were the best tree climber in the world.

It wasn't impossible.

The soft glow of the sun inched its way under the skyline,

As you ponder to yourself how in the world you were going to get down.

The Funny Thing About Life

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

The Maple Tree (revised)


This was the third time you have tried this hour,
 To climb the huge Maple tree just off the side of your house.
Its huge trunk was intimidating and its height even more so.
It was impossible.
The cold, snow covered ground was packed hard under your feet.
You pace, bitter cold wind hits your raw, red face.
It hurts but you’re not giving up that easy.
You’re like Superman, the world needed saving and you’re its only hope. 
You palm the rough, brown bark again with your mittened hand.
It was definitely impossible.
You look down at your big brother’s dull track cleats clad to your numb feet.
He was going to be so mad when he found out. 
They were missing teeth, like the Great White shark you saw on TV yesterday.
You suddenly wonder why no one has come to look for you yet.
It’s been two hours after all.
They must be busy, as usual.
You look back up at the tree
And grasp onto the thin leafless limb that was closest to you.
It dips slightly under your weight as you start to climb.
The adrenaline is pumping through your veins again.
You tell yourself you think you can, you’re like the little engine that could.
Your legs follow your arms.
You’ve learned from your past failed attempts that the next branch was a trick.
It was halfway broken.
Like the baseball bat your brother broke when he hit his last homerun of the season.
You were higher than you had ever gotten before.
You could see the tippy, tippy top of the tree now.
One last stretch and you’ll be there.
Your heart was pounding like the Road Runner from the Looney Tunes.
But you were even faster than him.
You were the best tree climber in the world.
It wasn’t impossible.
The soft glow of the sun inched its way under the skyline
As you ponder to yourself how in the world you were going to get down.