There Were Nine
There were nine of us
At the bottom of the tree
We were separated by four visible roots
Three on the first
Two on the second
One on the third
Three on the fourth
We had all been on one side
Together
The three on the first went back
To the other side
The one on the second went
To another side
Leaving five to stay together
There were nine of us
At the bottom of the tree
We thought we would all stay forever
The sun was shining
Especially bright where
On the five that stayed
Playing and laughing
Enjoying and celebrating
Then came the storm
Sunny all day
So we all thought
The storm came
The lightning struck
I
Part of the three on the other side
Could sense the horror
Hear screams
And almost
See the lightning strike
The nine were no longer nine
The two on the second became one
The three on the fourth become one
And the three that had left…
Went to join our old roots
Underground
The nine
Were now six
At the bottom
And three under
The tree
When would we
Become five
Three
Two
Who was next
The six
The roots
The whole tree
Is the lightning still
Waiting
To send us all down
One by one
Root by root
Or will it be so big
As to strike
And end
The whole tree
The days went by
And my great fear
Of the powerful lightning
Gradually lessened
Along with clouds of the storm
The sun shone again
Another had arrived at the fourth root
Making us now seven
At the bottom of the tree
The sun shines everyday on the tree now
And I
On the other side
Now know the lightning
Might strike at any time
And send me down
With my old roots
So I enjoy the sun
I play in the rain
I move with the wind
And explore all parts
Of the tree
There are seven
At the bottom of the tree
But the shadows
The memory
Of the other three
Remain forever
With the six left
From the nine of us
At the bottom of the tree