The Aspen

An aspen stands alone
Sunshine and fire burst from its dew dripped leaves
Radiating into the overwhelming mass of green and brown
Surrounding it

A smile from the cloudy heavens
Focuses down upon the single tree
Making its beauty and grace stand out
In the forest of mediocrity

The aspen’s beauty intensifies with every passing day
Even as the eve of winter
Rolls in
On the breath of the wind

The other trees stand in silence
Their shadows grow long and dark
But as the wind shudders through the aspen’s golden leaves
A glorious song rises out of the silence

The aspen’s wisdom is incomparable to the rest
It survives the vilest of winters
With more compassion to offer
Than the entire forest