Death of a Giant

Bleached white dry bones, exposed to the elements
Fallen from the anchor it stood on for ages
Roots up and trunk ending in skeletal fragments
Now ignored, like an old book’s unread pages

In life it drew children to climb its great heights
In the shade, we gathered beneath, celebrated
Taking respite from the heat as high summer bites
Come winter, simple raindrops on leaves fascinated

Like a bookend it marked a place, our space
Come to ours – ‘next to the big Marri’ I said
Our home once rested in her cool, gentle grace
Now the space is bereft, and bare overhead

And its last gift of firewood for warmth and for cheer
We planted her sapling to enrich all our futures
Vision swimming and choked with unshed tears
In thanks for the life that this great giant nurtured.