1
Somewhere west of Heartfelt Town
Lies a Great Forest rarely found
Sickly as the wintry snow
Drifting off into the deathly slow
Twas once alive with emerald shine
Juniper, willow, cedar and pine
Ever-growth around world’s reach
Providing life for all who beseech
Many knew the legends of old
“It was Life for all” the elders told
Though ancient days have long since past
Of the Great Forest few have asked
But on one morning’s hopeful dawn
A boy who’d heard this tale was drawn
And to the West he ventured lone
To find the Forest he’d leave his home
2
Mountains and streams the boy crossed
Trekking far through regions lost
With bloody hands and dusty feet
Up icy peaks, through boggy heat
After countless days were gone
He took the last descent of long
What felt of years had come to end
The Forest he found past riverbend
Unlike a thing he’d ever seen
More than stories said, it teemed
Seeing the trees of old like sand
He ran and ran and ran and ran
But bittersweetness filled the boy
Both joy and tears, like fine alloy
The woods he’d found: the source of life
But grey and fallen, filled with strife
3
Passing by a golden meadow
Eyeing many fading streams low
He hiked his way towards the center
To the heart he would enter
This task he knew was his call
He’d play his part, no matter the haul
Daunting, nonetheless, it seemed to him
To see Banyan, the Great Tree, on a whim
As the beaming sun had rose
He stepped into a clearing grove
And in the middle something so great
Twas Banyan himself, one could not mistake
His branches reached far and wide
Some could say a half-mile high
His roots were thick as marble pillars
And deep as Earth’s magma stirs
4
Banyan was alive, the boy was sure
For he slowly moved and jostled dirt
Turning towards the startled young man
He began to speak, lifting his hand
His creaking limbs had such a sound
Like crushing rocks and sliding mounds
A silence fell among the woods
In reverence all the trees stood
A solemn fear began to set in
As chills ran down the boy’s skin
There was no turning back to town
Until this task was done and sound
Suddenly, like cracking, burning fire
And louder than a thundrous pyre
Old and worn, creaky and smothered
Sounded a voice like no other
5
“Who are you?” Banyan bellowed
He made leaves rustle, red and yellow
Gulping fear, the boy’s head lifted
A courage which only could be gifted
“I’ve come to save this Great Forest,
what is needed? We have it, I’m the surest!”
The boy spoke with all his strength
Mustering boldness despite Banyan’s length
After a long and painful pause
Hoping for a possible plause
Banyan, fading, again spoke
“Water.” The Tree croaked.
The boy didn’t hesitate, not a second
“What do you mean, water?” he questioned
“Our town has very many good things
Let’s talk them through, one will ring”
6
The boy began his noble speech
“Let’s start with what we first teach:
In young age at Heartfelt home
We study deeply oldened tomes
They help us grow to be mature
And lead us to the truth with fervor
Perhaps these can save?” the Boy spoke
“I need water.” Banyan croaked.
“Perhaps I’m not making much sense,
I’ll try again, with something less tense.
We need your life, so here it goes
Here’s what brings the people in throws:
“We sing and sing countless songs
Ballads that point us to what’s Strong
It works for us, so Life it will stoke.”
“Water.” Banyan croaked.
7
The boy had grown very weary
What would work? It all seemed leery
He thought about all he’d learned
Until it came to him! This was the turn
“I have it, Banyan! Are you ready?
Relationships. They are the most steady.
Communal life, it’s how we’re renewed.
This, for you, will be like food.”
The boy had confidence in this word
From folk in Heartfelt he had heard
Community was how you always stayed
Firmly planted in your ways
So he waited, patient as could be
Until finally he looked closely at the tree
“Wate—” a faint croak escaped
Withered and dry, became Banyan’s shape
8
The boy was stunned, he couldn’t believe
In front of him a sight to grieve
Like the end of darkened sunrise
The life of Banyan met demise
A great sorrow fell on the Boy
Anxiety and pain, none could employ
His face had fallen quickly down
And tears began to fill the ground
None after, and none before
Had or would weep more
Than the boy who’d staked it all
To see the Great Forest alive and tall
On and on the weeping flowed
Perhaps it was years, the others wrote
Filling soil with tragic love
Watering ground below and above
9
In what felt eternities time
A morning’s sun began to shine
When his tears had come to cease
He saw a thing he couldn’t believe
The ground alive in great array
And trees of emerald green to stay
Then he looked directly forward
And saw Banyan’s figure in great accord
He wiped what remained from his eyes
And said to Banyan, standing high
“How can it be, you look restored?
What has happened, tell me more!”
Banyan’s wooden face piled
Into a wise and gracious smile
“Your tears of love and tender heart
Watered our soil, creating new start.”
10
So the Great Forest began to grow
Returning to it’s original glow
And Banyan and the Boy conversed
How to keep from future’s worst
And after all of this was done
The Boy set out; to home he’d come
He said goodbye to all he’d met
And promised return to be kept
He made the tenuous journey home
A half-year’s walk of difficult roam
But when he came upon the Town’s gates
He was greeted by all with loving weight
They knew he’d done what all had dreamed
Restoring life to more than seemed
Flowers, trees, rivers and more
Sprang up in all places, mountain to shore
11
For all the lands returned in glory
Beaming like was told in stories
Great peace fell upon all who dwelt
Laughter, jubilee— happiness felt
And Heartfelt town returned to ancient ways
Regardless of season in the fray
They’d hold devotion to the old paths
Relying on the life of the Forest baths
For present, and the future years past
Many would take the journey at last
Setting out on the arduous quest
To see Banyan and the Great Forest
Oh how time of long will remember
The courageous trek through trial and ember
For many will tell with fullness of joy
The legend of the Banyan and the Boy
This is really great. I enjoyed the imagery and the looseness of time.
This is PURE beauty!
Filled my soul!
Thank you so much!