GRIEF Poem: A Tree’s Farewell, by Mireille Uwonkunda

Once a seed,
buried in my hidden crypt,
I struggled to sprout from my nook,
unfolding slowly,
yearning to break through the unknown,
befriending both the sun and the moon.

I weathered many storms,
my roots remained steadfast,
awakening in spring,
flourishing in summer,
shedding in autumn,
resting in winter.

A haven for bird’s nest,
blossoming to sustain the beehive,
a refuge from the sun’s harsh glare,
nurturing the frugivores,
until the hour of reckoning arrived.

Belatedly, it became clear-
I was crafted for versatility,
struck down in a moment,
witnessing my descent to the earth,
fading in my zeal for existence.

I let the birds and bees to roam unbound,
delivering a farewell serenade,
releasing pollen to dance with the wind,
seeds resting lightly on the ground,
neither celestial body could offer solace.

Hoping my little ones find a place to
root,
their leaves fluttering to recount my tale,
birds composing a majestic melody in
my honor,
wishing they escape the end I must face,
as the heavens wept in torrents.