The Traveler and the Tree

The soul waits with the body
Until it is ultimately found
United in there union
Awaiting hallowed ground

A beaten path widely traveled
Awaits the weary soul
Free of death and free of life
Uncertain of its goal

A lonely journey takes it
To places it’s never known
Looking for salvation
Looking for its home

On a cold dark winter night
A gentle rain did fall
A lone and barren tree
Stood like a sentinel along the wall

A thousand drops of rain
Illuminated by moonlight
Clung to every branch
As the soldier remained upright

Its eerie glow permeated
The blackness all around
Like a beacon, for the wanderer
Waiting to be found

The drops they danced
Upon the spider’s web
The light left spinning
Across every thread

The grand old tree was knotted
Its age it was unable to mask
But it rose across the lonely plain
Ready for its task

A landmark to weary travelers
It was the eye’s only sight
Standing just off the path
It proved their way was right

The tree looked of death
It also begged of hope
Waiting for a passerby
To only take note

At last the wandering soul
Heavy with the burden of his load
Made it’s way slowly
Down the long and lonely road

Soaked to the core
With the wetness of the night
The soul’s hope faltered
With recognition of its plight

“What have I become?”
The soul, yelled into the air
“I’ve journeyed down this road
Completely unaware”

A stranger in a land
With nothing but his name
A few faded memories
From which he’d came

Leaning upon the tree
His hope all but gone
He prayed aloud to no one
No voice to respond

Turning to the tree
As if to question its existence
He suddenly felt the need
To prove his commitment

Kneeling down, he bowed his head
As if to offer his assistance
He and the tree so similar
He admired its persistence

Touching his hand upon the trunk
He felt a warming glow
Cascade around his every inch
Boldly in its flow


With a blinding flash a road appeared
Forking from the other
This one less traveled
It looked like no other

Instantly he heard the song
And his heart began to rejoice
He stepped upon the golden path
Following the voice

It led to several angels
Singing softly by a gate
Onward he stepped closer
Accepting what would await

With a gentle touch he felt the hand
As it started its embrace
Taking him as their brother
Wiping tears from his face.

Looking back he saw the tree
Standing all alone
And in every drop of rain
He saw the only memories he’d ever known.

Struggling with his emotions
He saw his son, he saw his wife
All of the times they had shared
Embedded on the tree of life

With one last tear, he saw them smile
And he knew, they felt his heart
So with a mighty step, the traveler
Began his ascension, his depart.

A thousand words could not describe
What his eyes did finally see
As he was lifted to the heavens
Where he would spend eternity