Was once a time when we were young,
Our starts were quick, our limbs grew strong.
We hung together filled with glee,
Flexing bough with gust or breeze.
Sheltered safe from ocean’s roar,
We dwelt far from its shore.
And then one day out from the sky,
From whence it came the ocean’s cry.
The breeze grew gust and gust grew strong,
From gentle breeze to thund’rous roar,
Caught off guard our branches soared.
Soared and stretched
and ripped and retched,
Snapped and torn and yanked from ground,
Some carried away, never to be found.
We tried to keep our footing firm,
Desperation, terror churned.
Our roots clenched tight with every turn.
Huddled with our branches tight,
We clung to each other for dear life.
Then suddenly quiet, it was gone,
Swift it came and it moved on.
And in that instant we were changed,
Youth was stripped, innocence ravaged.
Destruction looming large surround,
Our hearts were crushed, pieces on the ground.
But we rose proud, starting small
And once again we grew tall.
Most of us grew scarred and bent.
A few of us grew quite grotesque.
And those that clung with locked embrace
Grew woven, as wounds would not erase.
Thirty years have come and gone,
Remnants borne from that great storm.
But God in His great grace adorns
our scars, and places some would see
are hid by seasons’ finery.
And winter bears a rarity,
For now we do curve gracefully!
This is my contribution to the Weekly Photo Challenge with the theme of Forces of Nature. The forces of nature surround us. They can inspire or they can devastate. But always there is purpose, re-creation, re-growth.
Look at these trees that endured a horrific storm. What about the storms in our lives? Surrounded with so many vivid reminders to—stay the storm, stand together, lean on one another, hold one another—why is it so hard for us?
These trees and other forces of nature find a means of survival through one another, and by it, find healing. Should we do any less?
Peace,
Alexandria
SimplySage 
loisajay
/ May 10, 2015Beautiful post.
Alexandria Sage
/ May 10, 2015Thank you, loisajay!
dunelight
/ May 10, 2015Very nice metaphor, poem…it all.
Alexandria Sage
/ May 10, 2015Thank you.
Colin Harker
/ May 10, 2015A lovely — and rather sublime — series of photos, showing the more turbulent aspects of Nature.
Alexandria Sage
/ May 11, 2015Thank you. And thank you for the reblog!
Tina Schell
/ May 10, 2015“Should we do any less?” How perfectly said Alexandria. Wonderful post, very thought provoking.
Alexandria Sage
/ May 11, 2015Thanks, Tina!
claywatkins
/ May 11, 2015those trees look very familiar, the bark and just the look – ashes? Thanks for stopping by my place, today. Your forces of nature is good. I needed the uplift, too. Have a wonderful day.
Alexandria Sage
/ May 11, 2015It was from Hurricane Hugo, it came way inland. We moved here 11 years ago and I didn’t notice the effects until winter when the trees were all barren. Their resilience is a strong reminder and they help me through my own storms, hence the poem. I’m so glad it lifted your soul as well!
Amy
/ May 26, 2015I love this post, both photos and words! Beautiful and inspiring!
Alexandria Sage
/ May 26, 2015Thank you, Amy! Always good to hear from you!
Amy
/ May 27, 2015🙂 Have a great week!
Gerry C.
/ May 27, 2015Bravo Alexandria! Very elegant and dramatic photos. Thank you for sharing your work.