Trees

The wind blew countless tree seeds into the meadow.
Two of them landed far apart.
Two trees sprung from the ground.
At first they both grew,
Having no limit to the sun and water
They could have all to themselves.
And they stood solitary, growing taller,
Until a stiff storm came;
Their roots tore loose from the sod underneath
They fell and died,
Their decaying branches and trunks
Gave home to insects and little critters
And eventually disappeared into the meadow
To nourish the growing grasses for seasons to come.
Two other seedlings landed close together.
They grew and fought each other for sun and rain.
They grew exhausted, each choking out the other
They dried up and died.
And their decaying branches and trunks
Gave home to insects and little critters
And disappeared into the meadow
To nourish the growing grasses for seasons to come.
Two seedlings landed,
Separated by a fair distance,
At first having little to do with the other.
Each had its own sun, water, and soil, from which to grow.
In time, their branches touched and overlapped.
Later, their roots touched and then entwined
The overlapping branches came to form canopy,
Under which all manner of life
Flourished and found shelter.
The tangle of their shared roots
Was beyond the strength of any storm to upturn.

For it was only after finding their own strength
That they could share it with the other
And then, together, grow stronger.

FPA 9-12-16e to edit.