the purpose of a tree . . .

I came across a tree that was
lifeless and had no purpose
that I could see
And I thought and wondered why
had not someone taken pity and
cut it down before it died?

And then one day as I walk by
a fluttere of wings by me
fly
And to my surprise upon a limb
some caring one had hung a
feeder of seed and bread
hidden from the sun
Yellow birds
Black birds
Red and white ones as well
all are fellows dining as one

And to me new life the tree
seems to receive
And I am given hope
– When I feel helpless as a tree
left half dead
– Broken limb by limb
– Until it seems from me
all life has fled

Like a tree cut down I can sprout
again!
Am I not as a beggar telling
other beggars where to find
the bread

Or will, I like a careless neighbor
by a tree that seems dead to me
Walk right on by?

“For there is hope for a tree
when it is cut down that
it will sprout again”
Book of Job