Tree.

-written in 2015 for my friend, the great Nigerian poet, Ikeogu Oke, who died too young of pancreatic cancer in 2018.

Tree.

(for my friend, Ikeogu Oke, who died too young in 2018)

Although they spread deep and wide

from before measured history,

these ancient anchoring roots

are still the one great tree.

Although it towers, twists and turns,

is marked and scarred for all to see,

this changing, gnarled and mottled trunk

is still the one great tree.

Although some bend to touch the earth

whilst others soar in elegant beauty,

this vast spreading tangle of branches

is still the one great tree.

Although they blossom, bloom and droop

in cyclical, never-ending creativity,

these flowers, fruit and seed

are still the one great tree.

So too we who dream and love,

who share the common bond of humanity,

who have hearts, minds, hands and voice

are still the one great tree

Some branches may be full of thorns

but others grow in truth and poetry.

They raise their voice to sing

that we are all part of the one great tree

and in singing, rejoice,

in pureness of heart and simplicity,

across the deserts and mountains of this earth

that we are all part of the one great tree.

First published at praxismag online