Timeless

Remnants of picnic--
Lazy summer afternoon
Fades into twilight.

Since the dawn of time,
Wizened oak tree has witnessed
Milestones of childhood:

Parents with toddlers,
Family picnics in the park,
Camera shutters snap,

Preserving moments--
Immortalized infancy,
Too soon, it is gone.

Toddlers grow quickly,
Into rambunctious children,
Climbing and swinging--

Games of make-believe
Of princesses and pirates,
And Tarzan and Jane

In the tree's branches,
Youthful laughter emanates,
Cascades to the ground.

Teenage couple sits
Together, on lush carpet
Of vibrant green grass.

Shaded from the sun,
Boy takes out his pocket knife,
Professes his love (?)

Girl is enamoured--
Self-fulfilling prophecy?
Only time will tell.

But, nevertheless,
They sit there contentedly,
Seizing the moment.

Sun begins to set,
Sleepy colours fill the sky,
Pink, blue, violet--

Glowing orange sun,
On perfect pastel backdrop--
Nature bids goodnight.

Children called inside
For dinner, baths, and studying,
Some go on their own

Lured by videos,
And shiny white Wii consoles--
Inactivity.

Castles in the sand
Become Barbie dream houses
Pirates? A "trademark"

Of popular films
Packaged with jumbo popcorn,
And buckets of Coke.

Aging oak tree sits
So patiently, as before,
Awaits visitors.

Sun rises again,
Old man and woman arrive,
Sit gingerly down

Murmured memories
(Their health is slowly fading),
Man is first to speak--

Takes wife by the hand,
Points out their old initials
Carved in the tree trunk.

Woman turns to man,
Eyes glisten with happy tears,
She remembers, too.

Oak tree's spirits lift--
Tomorrow, this couple may
Bring their grandchildren.