1889 - The Dogwood

 "Kissing Porpoise" - Photo: JCN

The Sunday Whirl presented these twelve words for us to use in a creative writing piece. 

lifetime share relax connect place last class awe home will years trip 

Poets & Storytellers invites us to write about a dead tree.

The Dogwood

It was her great love—
Holding pride of place
In the front yard—
And also in her heart.
Planted when
The children were young.
Slow growing—
A lifetime tree
In a class of its own.
It graced our home 
There for thirty years or more
But it was always “her tree”,
Sharing in the arrival 
Of family and visitors,
Welcoming us back 
From trips overseas.
We would relax on the verandah,
Enjoying its changes.
Draped in white spring blossom,
Each flower appearing
As a kissing porpoise.
Flowers then gave way 
To acid green foliage,
Turning scarlet in autumn.
Passing strangers, in awe,
Would photograph each other
In front of it, share it—
A work of natural art,
A connection with nature.

She died.
The tree lived on,
A living reminder of her.
It’s gone now too.
It died just after I left.

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