AN OLD DARK TREE CAME INTO VIEW.

ITS BRANCHES SEEMED TO TOUCH THE SKY.

“HOW LONG HAD IT LIVED?”  I THOUGHT.

“AND WHY DID IT HAVE THAT PALE  GREY HUE?”

AS I LOOKED AT THIS BIG PALE TREE,

I BEGAN TO HEAR VOICES.

“COULD IT BE HAPPENING?’  I WONDERED.

WAS THIS BIG PALE GREY TREE SPEAKING TO ME?

THE VOICE I HEARD SEEMED TO ECHO MY THOUGHTS.

YES!  IT WAS THAT  OLD PALE GREY TREE.

AND ALL OF MY ATTENTION, IT HAD CERTAINLY CAUGHT.

“WHEN YOU BECOME A MAN,”

THE VOICE SAID, “BE LIKE I HAVE BEEN.

THROUGH THE GOOD AND THE BAD,

STAND YOUR GROUND.

THROUGH TIMES, HAPPY AND SAD,

NEVER GO DOWN.

WHEN BAD TIMES DO COME.

SPREAD YOUR BRANCHES WIDE

AND SHED YOUR FEARS

AS I HAVE LEARNED TO SHED  MY LEAVES.

ALWAYS FOCUS UPWARD

ON ALL THINGS THAT COME YOUR WAY.

AND AS I HAVE BECOME OVER THE YEARS,

SOMEDAY, YOU TOO WILL BE OLD, PALE, AND GREY.