Wisdom of the Willow

By Will Tuttle

There she stands by the slowly river
No longer only reaching high:
Rooted in the warm dark earth
That holds and nurtures everyhing.
She reaches up like other trees to heaven,
To freedom, light, and joy,
And yet returns her gracious boughs
To touch the earth and stream again.
Weeping tears of empathy,
She bends low to caress the earth,
To enter fully the world again,
With gift-bestowing hands.